A qualitative study evaluating COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among individuals living in Mississippi
Background: COVID-19 vaccination rates are lower in the Southern United States compared to other regions. This study investigated COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in Mississippi (MS) to identify preferences that may boost MS vaccination strategies in areas with poor vaccine uptake. Methods: Qualitativ...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2024-06-01
|
| Series: | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523001610 |
| _version_ | 1827223322853638144 |
|---|---|
| author | Avery Leigland Trisha Arnold Kayla K. Giorlando Andrew P. Barnett Courtney E. Sims-Gomillia Zoe Bertone Precious Patrick Edet Laura Whiteley Larry K. Brown |
| author_facet | Avery Leigland Trisha Arnold Kayla K. Giorlando Andrew P. Barnett Courtney E. Sims-Gomillia Zoe Bertone Precious Patrick Edet Laura Whiteley Larry K. Brown |
| author_sort | Avery Leigland |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: COVID-19 vaccination rates are lower in the Southern United States compared to other regions. This study investigated COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in Mississippi (MS) to identify preferences that may boost MS vaccination strategies in areas with poor vaccine uptake. Methods: Qualitative interviews were completed between April 2021 and January 2022 with staff and patients at four Federally Qualified Health Centers in MS. Interviews included the following COVID-19 vaccine topics: willingness to be vaccinated, barriers and facilitators, and methods for providing vaccine information. Data were organized with NVivo software and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Fifteen clinic staff and 49 patients were interviewed. Barriers to vaccine uptake included a lack of knowledge and understanding of how the vaccine worked, distrust of the government, fear of side effects, and social pressure to stay unvaccinated. Vaccination facilitators included its widespread accessibility, a desire to protect themselves and vulnerable populations, and a previous unpleasant COVID-19 illness experience. Participants stated that vaccine information should be provided by health organizations and familiar, respected community members. Conclusions: Results identified barriers to vaccination, such as mistrust of the government and healthcare system, and facilitators like vaccination advocacy originating from congregations and religious leaders. These findings can inform future COVID-19 vaccination efforts to increase overall immunization rates in MS. Future research in other locations could further assess commonalities and differences in the barriers and facilitators to vaccination. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:35:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ca2a3afaf7ba4a6ca19b4820a7dbed38 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2667-3215 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-21T16:52:33Z |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-ca2a3afaf7ba4a6ca19b4820a7dbed382024-06-15T06:14:33ZengElsevierSSM: Qualitative Research in Health2667-32152024-06-015100377A qualitative study evaluating COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among individuals living in MississippiAvery Leigland0Trisha Arnold1Kayla K. Giorlando2Andrew P. Barnett3Courtney E. Sims-Gomillia4Zoe Bertone5Precious Patrick Edet6Laura Whiteley7Larry K. Brown8Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA; Corresponding author. Rhode Island Hospital, 167 Point Street, Coro East, Suite 161.6, Providence, RI 02903, USA.Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USADepartment of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USADepartment of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USADepartment of Population Health Science, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USADepartment of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USADepartment of Population Health Science, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USADepartment of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USADepartment of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USABackground: COVID-19 vaccination rates are lower in the Southern United States compared to other regions. This study investigated COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in Mississippi (MS) to identify preferences that may boost MS vaccination strategies in areas with poor vaccine uptake. Methods: Qualitative interviews were completed between April 2021 and January 2022 with staff and patients at four Federally Qualified Health Centers in MS. Interviews included the following COVID-19 vaccine topics: willingness to be vaccinated, barriers and facilitators, and methods for providing vaccine information. Data were organized with NVivo software and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Fifteen clinic staff and 49 patients were interviewed. Barriers to vaccine uptake included a lack of knowledge and understanding of how the vaccine worked, distrust of the government, fear of side effects, and social pressure to stay unvaccinated. Vaccination facilitators included its widespread accessibility, a desire to protect themselves and vulnerable populations, and a previous unpleasant COVID-19 illness experience. Participants stated that vaccine information should be provided by health organizations and familiar, respected community members. Conclusions: Results identified barriers to vaccination, such as mistrust of the government and healthcare system, and facilitators like vaccination advocacy originating from congregations and religious leaders. These findings can inform future COVID-19 vaccination efforts to increase overall immunization rates in MS. Future research in other locations could further assess commonalities and differences in the barriers and facilitators to vaccination.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523001610COVID-19Vaccine hesitancyVaccinationMississippiQualitative |
| spellingShingle | Avery Leigland Trisha Arnold Kayla K. Giorlando Andrew P. Barnett Courtney E. Sims-Gomillia Zoe Bertone Precious Patrick Edet Laura Whiteley Larry K. Brown A qualitative study evaluating COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among individuals living in Mississippi SSM: Qualitative Research in Health COVID-19 Vaccine hesitancy Vaccination Mississippi Qualitative |
| title | A qualitative study evaluating COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among individuals living in Mississippi |
| title_full | A qualitative study evaluating COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among individuals living in Mississippi |
| title_fullStr | A qualitative study evaluating COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among individuals living in Mississippi |
| title_full_unstemmed | A qualitative study evaluating COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among individuals living in Mississippi |
| title_short | A qualitative study evaluating COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among individuals living in Mississippi |
| title_sort | qualitative study evaluating covid 19 vaccine hesitancy among individuals living in mississippi |
| topic | COVID-19 Vaccine hesitancy Vaccination Mississippi Qualitative |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523001610 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT averyleigland aqualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT trishaarnold aqualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT kaylakgiorlando aqualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT andrewpbarnett aqualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT courtneyesimsgomillia aqualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT zoebertone aqualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT preciouspatrickedet aqualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT laurawhiteley aqualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT larrykbrown aqualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT averyleigland qualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT trishaarnold qualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT kaylakgiorlando qualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT andrewpbarnett qualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT courtneyesimsgomillia qualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT zoebertone qualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT preciouspatrickedet qualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT laurawhiteley qualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi AT larrykbrown qualitativestudyevaluatingcovid19vaccinehesitancyamongindividualslivinginmississippi |