P-598. Attitudes toward a potential Norovirus vaccine among patients with medically-attended acute gastroenteritis in the US
Authors: Groom Holly C , Slaughter Matthew T , Donald Judy L , Viscidi Emma , Dickerson John F , O’Keeffe-Rosetti Maureen , Schmidt Mark A , Hendrix Laura H , Carlson Katherine B 
Published: January 2025

Background

Clinical trials for norovirus (NoV) vaccines are underway. Prior research has found generally positive attitudes toward a potential NoV vaccine, but there is limited understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted attitudes toward novel vaccines.

Methods

We identified medically-attended acute gastroenteritis (MAAGE) encounters among Kaiser Permanente Northwest members of all ages based on ICD-10 diagnostic codes, occurring from 11/17/2023-4/18/2024. Participants were asked to complete surveys which included questions about their level of agreement with the need for and willingness to get a potential NoV, as well as whether the COVID-19 pandemic impacted attitudes about vaccines.Figure 2.How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed attitudes about vaccines? Distribution of responses, by age group, November 2023-April 2024.

Results

Of 8,363 adults and 666 parents/guardians of children with MAAGE who were invited to participate, 553 (6.6%) adults and 38 (5.8%) guardians consented and completed surveys. Among adults, median age was 46 (range 18-90) years; most were female (76%) and of white race (84%). Among children of parents/guardians, median age was 4 (range 0-17) years; 58% were female and 89% were white.

Overall, 37% of adult MAAGE patients agreed that a NoV vaccine was needed to prevent illness for themselves and 47% agreed that a vaccine was needed to protect the community; 56% agreed that they would get a NoV vaccine if available. When stratified by age group (18-49 yrs., 50-64 yrs., 65+ yrs.), the oldest respondents had the most favorable responses, with 63% of adults 65+ years indicating that they would get a potential vaccine (Fig 1).

Among guardians, 61% agreed a vaccine was needed to prevent their child from getting ill and 74% agreed the community was in need of a NoV vaccine. Overall, 68% agreed they would vaccinate their child. When asked how the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted attitudes about vaccines, most respondents indicated there was either no change (37-42%) or they had increasingly positive attitudes (26-41%); a minority (6-16%) reported more negative attitudes (Fig 2).

Conclusion

In this sample of patients with recent MAAGE events, over 60% of adults 65+ and child guardians expressed willingness to get a NoV vaccine for themselves or their child. More

respondents reported a positive shift in comparison to a negative shift in attitude towards vaccines following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Disclosures

Holly C. Groom, MPH, Hillevax: Grant/Research Support|Moderna: Grant/Research Support Matthew T. Slaughter, MS, Moderna: Grant/Research Support Judy L. Donald, MA, HilleVax: Grant/Research Support|Janssen: Grant/Research Support|Moderna: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support|Vir Biotechnology: Grant/Research Support Emma Viscidi, PhD, MHS, Moderna: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) John F. Dickerson, PhD, Janssesn: Grant/Research Support|Moderna: Grant/Research Support|Novartis: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support Maureen O'Keeffe-Rosetti, MS, Hillevax: Grant/Research Support|Janssen: Grant/Research Support|Moderna: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support Mark A. Schmidt, PhD, MPH, HilleVax: Grant/Research Support|Janssen: Grant/Research Support|Moderna: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support|Vir Biotechnology: Grant/Research Support Laura H. Hendrix, MS, Moderna Therapeutics Ltd.: Stocks/Bonds (Private Company) Katherine B. Carlson, PhD, MPH, Moderna: Stocks/Bonds (Private Company)