Table 1.
Population characteristics of the study among patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in a single academic center in Appalachian WV (February to May 2021, N= 306).
| Variables | Categories | N | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 24 | 7 | 2.29 |
| 25 – 34 | 34 | 11.11 | |
| 35 – 44 | 65 | 21.24 | |
| 45 – 54 | 80 | 26.14 | |
| 55 – 64 | 65 | 21.24 | |
| 65 −74 | 47 | 15.36 | |
| 75 | 8 | 2.61 | |
| Mean (SD) | 50.34 | 13.55 | |
| Education | High School | 105 | 35.12 |
| > High School | 194 | 64.88 | |
| Gender | Female | 237 | 77.45 |
| Male | 69 | 22.55 | |
| Geographic location1 | Rural | 151 | 50.5 |
| Urban | 148 | 49.5 | |
| Perception of current MS condition2 | Not good | 158 | 51.97 |
| Good | 146 | 48.03 | |
| Use of Disease Modifying Therapy (DMT)3 | No | 63 | 21 |
| New | 204 | 68 | |
| Old | 33 | 11 | |
| Vaccine intent4 | Do not intent | 104 | 33.99 |
| Received/scheduled/intend | 202 | 66.01 | |
| Perceived risk of getting the COVID-19 infection | High | 80 | 26.4 |
| Low | 223 | 73.6 | |
| Concerned about vaccine causing MS relapse | Yes | 122 | 40.13 |
| No | 182 | 59.87 | |
| Concerned about vaccine making MS medication ineffective | Yes | 97 | 32.77 |
| No | 199 | 67.23 | |
| Concerned about MS medicine making the vaccine ineffective | Yes | 93 | 31.53 |
| No | 202 | 68.47 | |
| COVID-19 vaccine information source | Doctor(s) | 57 | 18.94 |
| Friends | 4 | 1.33 | |
| Internet | 95 | 31.56 | |
| TV | 47 | 15.61 | |
| Others | 98 | 32.56 | |
| Concerned about where to get the vaccine | Yes | 24 | 7.89 |
| No | 280 | 92.11 | |
| Concerned about vaccine cost | Yes | 12 | 3.99 |
| No | 289 | 96.01 | |
| Have a ride to get the vaccine | Yes | 288 | 96 |
| No | 12 | 4 | |
| Received the flu vaccine in the past year | Yes | 169 | 55.59 |
| No | 135 | 44.41 |
1Geographic location was categorized as Rural and Urban using zip code level data using the U.S. Census Bureau rural definition (United States Census Bureau, 2010).
2Participants were asked “How well you are doing in terms of MS?” and the response was collected using a 5-point Likert scale and 1–3 points were categorized as ‘not doing well’ and 4–5 points were categorized as ‘doing well’.
3DMT New drugs included: Aubagio (teriflunomide), Cellcept (mofetil), Gilenya (fingolimod), Kesimpta (ofatumumab), Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), Mavenclad (cladribine), Mayzent (siponimod), Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), Rituxan (rituximab), Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate), Tysabri (natalizumab),Vumerity (diroximel fumarate) Old drugs included: Avonex (interferon beta-1a), Copaxone (glatiramer acetate), Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a).
4This variable was created using two questions. Participants were asked “Have you already received the COVID-19 vaccine?” (yes and no) and “If not, how likely are you going to get the vaccine?” that consisted of a 5-point Likert scale which was dichotomized as ‘unlikely’ (1–3 points) and ‘likely’ (4–5 points).