COVID Vaccine Hesitancy and Risk of a Traffic Crash - The American Journal of Medicine
▻https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(22)00822-1/abstract
Figure 1 Cumulative incidence plots of absolute risk of a serious traffic crash. X-axis shows days following start of follow-up. Y-axis shows cumulative incidence of events per million individuals. Blue line denotes those vaccinated against coronavirus disease (COVID) and red line denotes those not vaccinated against COVID. Counts in square brackets indicate cumulative total patients in each group with an event at corresponding time. Relative risk ratio based on logistic regression model. Results show substantial incidence of serious traffic crashes that is increased for those who are not vaccinated relative to those who are vaccinated.
Abstract
Background
Coronavirus disease (COVID) vaccine hesitancy is a reflection of psychology that might also contribute to traffic safety. We tested whether COVID vaccination was associated with the risks of a traffic crash.
Methods
We conducted a population-based longitudinal cohort analysis of adults and determined COVID vaccination status through linkages to individual electronic medical records. Traffic crashes requiring emergency medical care were subsequently identified by multicenter outcome ascertainment of all hospitals in the region over a 1-month follow-up interval (178 separate centers).
Results
A total of 11,270,763 individuals were included, of whom 16% had not received a COVID vaccine and 84% had received a COVID vaccine. The cohort accounted for 6682 traffic crashes during follow-up. Unvaccinated individuals accounted for 1682 traffic crashes (25%), equal to a 72% increased relative risk compared with those vaccinated (95% confidence interval, 63-82; P < 0.001). The increased traffic risks among unvaccinated individuals extended to diverse subgroups, was similar to the relative risk associated with sleep apnea, and was equal to a 48% increase after adjustment for age, sex, home location, socioeconomic status, and medical diagnoses (95% confidence interval, 40-57; P < 0.001). The increased risks extended across the spectrum of crash severity, appeared similar for Pfizer, Moderna, or other vaccines, and were validated in supplementary analyses of crossover cases, propensity scores, and additional controls.
Conclusions
These data suggest that COVID vaccine hesitancy is associated with significant increased risks of a traffic crash. An awareness of these risks might help to encourage more COVID vaccination.
