COVID-19 Vaccinations, Trust, and Vaccination Decisions within the Refugee Community of Calgary, Canada
Refugee decisions to vaccinate for COVID-19 are a complex interplay of factors which include individual perceptions, access barriers, trust, and COVID-19 specific factors, which contribute to lower vaccine uptake. To address this, the WHO calls for localized solutions to increase COVID-19 vaccine up...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/2/177 |
| _version_ | 1827342655303974912 |
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| author | Fariba Aghajafari Laurent Wall Amanda Weightman Alyssa Ness Deidre Lake Krishna Anupindi Gayatri Moorthi Bryan Kuk Maria Santana Annalee Coakley |
| author_facet | Fariba Aghajafari Laurent Wall Amanda Weightman Alyssa Ness Deidre Lake Krishna Anupindi Gayatri Moorthi Bryan Kuk Maria Santana Annalee Coakley |
| author_sort | Fariba Aghajafari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Refugee decisions to vaccinate for COVID-19 are a complex interplay of factors which include individual perceptions, access barriers, trust, and COVID-19 specific factors, which contribute to lower vaccine uptake. To address this, the WHO calls for localized solutions to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake for refugees and evidence to inform future vaccination efforts. However, limited evidence engages directly with refugees about their experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations. To address this gap, researchers conducted qualitative interviews (N = 61) with refugees (n = 45), sponsors of refugees (n = 3), and key informants (n = 13) connected to local COVID-19 vaccination efforts for refugees in Calgary. Thematic analysis was conducted to synthesize themes related to vaccine perspectives, vaccination experiences, and patient intersections with policies and systems. Findings reveal that refugees benefit from ample services that are delivered at various stages, that are not solely related to vaccinations, and which create multiple positive touch points with health and immigration systems. This builds trust and vaccine confidence and promotes COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Despite multiple factors affecting vaccination decisions, a key reason for vaccination was timely and credible information delivered through trusted intermediaries and in an environment that addressed refugee needs and concerns. As refugees placed trust and relationships at the core of decision-making and vaccination, it is recommended that healthcare systems work through trust and relationships to reach refugees. This can be targeted through culturally responsive healthcare delivery that meets patients where they are, including barrier reduction measures such as translation and on-site vaccinations, and educational and outreach partnerships with private groups, community organizations and leaders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:11:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e3159880048f42e0b512ee1b9eea24f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:11:31Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-e3159880048f42e0b512ee1b9eea24f22024-02-23T15:37:04ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2024-02-0112217710.3390/vaccines12020177COVID-19 Vaccinations, Trust, and Vaccination Decisions within the Refugee Community of Calgary, CanadaFariba Aghajafari0Laurent Wall1Amanda Weightman2Alyssa Ness3Deidre Lake4Krishna Anupindi5Gayatri Moorthi6Bryan Kuk7Maria Santana8Annalee Coakley9Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaHabitus Consulting Collective, Calgary, AB T2T 1P3, CanadaHabitus Consulting Collective, Calgary, AB T2T 1P3, CanadaDepartment of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaAlberta International Medical Graduates Association, Calgary, AB T2E 3K8, CanadaCumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaHabitus Consulting Collective, Calgary, AB T2T 1P3, CanadaHabitus Consulting Collective, Calgary, AB T2T 1P3, CanadaDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaRefugee decisions to vaccinate for COVID-19 are a complex interplay of factors which include individual perceptions, access barriers, trust, and COVID-19 specific factors, which contribute to lower vaccine uptake. To address this, the WHO calls for localized solutions to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake for refugees and evidence to inform future vaccination efforts. However, limited evidence engages directly with refugees about their experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations. To address this gap, researchers conducted qualitative interviews (N = 61) with refugees (n = 45), sponsors of refugees (n = 3), and key informants (n = 13) connected to local COVID-19 vaccination efforts for refugees in Calgary. Thematic analysis was conducted to synthesize themes related to vaccine perspectives, vaccination experiences, and patient intersections with policies and systems. Findings reveal that refugees benefit from ample services that are delivered at various stages, that are not solely related to vaccinations, and which create multiple positive touch points with health and immigration systems. This builds trust and vaccine confidence and promotes COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Despite multiple factors affecting vaccination decisions, a key reason for vaccination was timely and credible information delivered through trusted intermediaries and in an environment that addressed refugee needs and concerns. As refugees placed trust and relationships at the core of decision-making and vaccination, it is recommended that healthcare systems work through trust and relationships to reach refugees. This can be targeted through culturally responsive healthcare delivery that meets patients where they are, including barrier reduction measures such as translation and on-site vaccinations, and educational and outreach partnerships with private groups, community organizations and leaders.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/2/177COVID-19undervaccination factorsvaccine hesitancyvaccination barriersvaccine confidencevaccine uptake |
| spellingShingle | Fariba Aghajafari Laurent Wall Amanda Weightman Alyssa Ness Deidre Lake Krishna Anupindi Gayatri Moorthi Bryan Kuk Maria Santana Annalee Coakley COVID-19 Vaccinations, Trust, and Vaccination Decisions within the Refugee Community of Calgary, Canada Vaccines COVID-19 undervaccination factors vaccine hesitancy vaccination barriers vaccine confidence vaccine uptake |
| title | COVID-19 Vaccinations, Trust, and Vaccination Decisions within the Refugee Community of Calgary, Canada |
| title_full | COVID-19 Vaccinations, Trust, and Vaccination Decisions within the Refugee Community of Calgary, Canada |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 Vaccinations, Trust, and Vaccination Decisions within the Refugee Community of Calgary, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 Vaccinations, Trust, and Vaccination Decisions within the Refugee Community of Calgary, Canada |
| title_short | COVID-19 Vaccinations, Trust, and Vaccination Decisions within the Refugee Community of Calgary, Canada |
| title_sort | covid 19 vaccinations trust and vaccination decisions within the refugee community of calgary canada |
| topic | COVID-19 undervaccination factors vaccine hesitancy vaccination barriers vaccine confidence vaccine uptake |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/2/177 |
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