Barriers to Coronavirus Disease 19 vaccination in patients with obesity

Patients with obesity are at a high risk of severe disease and death from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Vaccination offers a safe and effective means of reducing this risk. The rate of COVID-19 vaccine refusal in patients with obesity is unknown. Patients with obesity were administered validated questionnaires assessing COVID-19 fear, general vaccine hesitancy, and COVID-19-specific vaccine hesitancy. 507 participants completed the study. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was high: Fifteen percent of patients refused COVID-19 vaccine. Hesitancy related to other vaccines was also high: Eight percent of patients refused a vaccine in the past, and 15% delayed a vaccine. Fear of side effects and doubts regarding effectiveness were the most common reasons for vaccine refusal. Despite high risk for complications, vaccine hesitancy is high among patients with obesity. Targeted public health interventions are critical to reduce vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccination rates. •Patients with obesity, regardless of bariatric surgery status, are at high risk of COVID-19-related morbidity and death.•Patients with obesity have a high rate of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.•Interventions to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in this high-risk population are needed.