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Residents' feedback needed for COVID-19 vaccine survey

South-central Kansas residents are being asked to take an online survey that will help counties in the region understand what factors influence a person’s decision on whether they will take a COVID-19 vaccine, once it’s available.

South-central Kansas residents are being asked to take an online survey that will help counties in the region understand what factors influence a person's decision on whether they will receive a COVID-19 vaccine, once it's available.

"We want to understand the knowledge and attitudes toward a COVID-19 vaccine," said Elizabeth Ablah, Ph.D., MPH, professor in the Department of Population Health at KU School of Medicine-Wichita, who is helping lead the research. "The purpose is really to inform planning for the COVID-19 vaccine - it can help counties estimate the number of doses needed."

Ablah is working with the South Central Kansas Healthcare Coalition to gather data through the online survey, which is being distributed and promoted by the eight counties comprising the coalition: Butler, Cowley, Harvey, Marion, Reno, Barber, Sedgwick and Sumner.

"This is an opportunity for residents of these counties to indicate their genuine interest in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine," she said. "If counties receive accurate results, they'll be able to plan appropriately for the number of residents interested in being vaccinated."

The survey addresses trusted sources among residents, getting their opinions on who they would trust most to receive information from regarding a vaccine.

National studies have identified that some people are not interested in a COVID-19 vaccine because they don't trust it, Ablah said, acknowledging that factor could "certainly play a large role in whether we need doses for everyone in a county or half that."

"The counties want a sense of what's needed," she said. "We haven't had local statistics and data around, and they want a way to anticipate the interest."

The survey is anonymous, although some demographic information is requested in order for researchers to understand how representative the data is of the counties.

"If we get 70 percent female responses, then we know that doesn't represent the males, for example," Ablah said.

The study will soon be offered in Spanish and Vietnamese as well, she said. She's planning to present data to the participating counties by the end of the month.

"We'll get feedback from the counties and work with them to get them the type of data they need to inform decision making," Ablah said. "It's possible we may make some changes and do another survey."

Take the survey

Do you live in Butler, Cowley, Harvey, Marion, Reno, Barber, Sedgwick or Sumner County? Take the Regional COVID-19 Vaccine Survey.


KU School of Medicine-Wichita