Date of Conferral

10-22-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Gregory Campbell, PhD

Abstract

This qualitative case study investigated vaccine hesitancy among African American healthcare workers in Los Angeles County, California in light of employment loss following the State Public Health Officer Order of August 5, 2021. The literature indicated that vaccination policies have impacted the psychological health of healthcare workers, especially those with vaccine doubts. The research problem addressed in this study was that the mental health effects among African American hospital workers who lost employment as a result of vaccine hesitancy was not known. The purpose of this generic qualitative case study was to explain the factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy in this demographic, the related mental health consequences of job displacement, and the perceptions of healthcare administrators regarding the mandate's application through the lens of the critical race theory and the rational choice theory. The findings were that healthcare administrators agreed with frontline staff that the mandate rollout fell flat on cultural sensitivity and yielded information that can potentially be used to improve public health strategies relating to vaccine policies among healthcare workers. This study not only focused on individual experiences of each healthcare worker, but it also addressed broader public health suggestions, thus this study contributed to the discussion surrounding health equity and policy effectiveness in certain minority populations. This study created implications for positive social change as it integrated structural humility into health system decision-making, which allows stakeholders to promote both community safety and racial equity among all populations.

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