Stroke and TIA Survivors’ Perceptions of The COVID-19 Vaccine: Cross Sectional Survey

Background: People who experience a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) have greater risks of complications from contracting COVID-19. Vaccine uptake in this vulnerable population is important to reduce the burden of COVID-19 on healthcare services and society. To prevent vaccine hesitancy and maximise compliance, we need to better understand individuals’ views on the vaccine. We aimed to explore perspectives of people with stroke/TIA on the COVID-19 vaccine and influences on its uptake. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional, electronic open survey comprising multiple choice and free text questions. Convenience sampling was used to recruit people who have experienced a stroke and/or TIA, and were residents in the UK or Ireland. Results: The survey was completed by 377 stroke/TIA survivors. 87% (328/377) had either received the first vaccine or were booked to have it. The vaccine was declined by 2% (7/377) and 3% (11/377) had been offered the vaccine but not yet taken it up. 8% (30/377) had not been offered the vaccine despite being eligible.Many people expressed concerns around the safety of the vaccine (particularly risk of blood clots and stroke) and some were hesitant to have the second vaccine. Most people had no difficulty accessing the vaccine appointment. Societal and personal benefits were motivations for vaccine uptake. There was uncertainty and lack of information about risk of COVID-19 related complications specifically for people who had a stroke/TIA. Conclusion: For people with stroke and TIA, confidence in the vaccine’s safety is the overriding behavioural influence on vaccine uptake. Despite high uptake of the first vaccine, many have legitimate concerns and information needs that should be addressed. Our findings can be used to identify targets for behaviour change to improve vaccine uptake specific to stroke/TIA patients, in particular, increase trust in the vaccine’s safety (confidence) and improve understanding of the greater risks of complications from contracting COVID-19 (complacency).