The importance of family and country of origin in vaccine messaging for H2A farm workers.
Abstract
As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, the views and beliefs towards both COVID-19 and its vaccine of those deemed ‘essential workers’ was unclear. One essential group our nation relies on to feed and clothe us are migrant H2A farm workers, often coming into the US for seasonal work on agricultural operations and production facilities. Although being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 became an entry requirement to the US as of January 2021, the reality remains that having access to and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters among H2A workers is complex. This study aimed to understand the influences that shaped H2A works’ views, beliefs, and hesitancies about the COVID-19 vaccine.
During the summer of 2021, researchers held three focus groups on farms using migrant H2A workers in Southwest Georgia, to gather information on vaccine views, beliefs, and hesitancy among this population. The groups were facilitated by a local Latinx nurse who was familiar with the communities. We found two of the prominent themes in these groups were: 1) the influence of attitudes and beliefs from country of origin, and 2) attitudes and experiences of family of origin on vaccine views and hesitancy. Using the Health Beliefs Model, we saw attitudes and beliefs held by family and country of origin shaped perceived susceptibility to and perceived severity of COVID-19, and also perceived benefits of and barriers to the COVID-19 vaccine. H2A workers differ from other Latinx populations in their back and forth migration between the US and country of origin; the influences of country of origin attitudes and beliefs, and those of their families in home countries, are thus likely large. Crafting effective messaging to address vaccine hesitancy in H2A workers requires understanding and addressing the specific attitudes, beliefs, and concerns about COVID-19 vaccines held in H2A workers’ families and home countries.
Keywords
vaccine, COVID-19, health education, Latinx, migrant worker, H2A worker
The importance of family and country of origin in vaccine messaging for H2A farm workers.
As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, the views and beliefs towards both COVID-19 and its vaccine of those deemed ‘essential workers’ was unclear. One essential group our nation relies on to feed and clothe us are migrant H2A farm workers, often coming into the US for seasonal work on agricultural operations and production facilities. Although being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 became an entry requirement to the US as of January 2021, the reality remains that having access to and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters among H2A workers is complex. This study aimed to understand the influences that shaped H2A works’ views, beliefs, and hesitancies about the COVID-19 vaccine.
During the summer of 2021, researchers held three focus groups on farms using migrant H2A workers in Southwest Georgia, to gather information on vaccine views, beliefs, and hesitancy among this population. The groups were facilitated by a local Latinx nurse who was familiar with the communities. We found two of the prominent themes in these groups were: 1) the influence of attitudes and beliefs from country of origin, and 2) attitudes and experiences of family of origin on vaccine views and hesitancy. Using the Health Beliefs Model, we saw attitudes and beliefs held by family and country of origin shaped perceived susceptibility to and perceived severity of COVID-19, and also perceived benefits of and barriers to the COVID-19 vaccine. H2A workers differ from other Latinx populations in their back and forth migration between the US and country of origin; the influences of country of origin attitudes and beliefs, and those of their families in home countries, are thus likely large. Crafting effective messaging to address vaccine hesitancy in H2A workers requires understanding and addressing the specific attitudes, beliefs, and concerns about COVID-19 vaccines held in H2A workers’ families and home countries.
