Factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy and reduced vaccine confidence in rural underserved populations
Abstract Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to limit the spread of infectious diseases, and reduce mortality and morbidity in rural areas. Waning public confidence in vaccines, especially the COVID-19 vaccine, remains a cause for concern. A number of individuals in the US and worldwi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer Nature
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01439-3 |
| _version_ | 1811186979098853376 |
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| author | Renee Robinson Elaine Nguyen Melanie Wright John Holmes Catherine Oliphant Kevin Cleveland Mary A. Nies |
| author_facet | Renee Robinson Elaine Nguyen Melanie Wright John Holmes Catherine Oliphant Kevin Cleveland Mary A. Nies |
| author_sort | Renee Robinson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to limit the spread of infectious diseases, and reduce mortality and morbidity in rural areas. Waning public confidence in vaccines, especially the COVID-19 vaccine, remains a cause for concern. A number of individuals in the US and worldwide remain complacent, choosing not to be vaccinated and/or delay COVID-19 vaccination, resulting in suboptimal herd immunity. The primary goal of this study is to identify modifiable factors contributing to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among vaccine-eligible individuals with access to vaccines in two under-resourced rural states, Alaska and Idaho. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with providers and focus groups with community participants in Alaska and Idaho. A moderator’s guide was used to facilitate interviews and focus groups conducted and recorded using Zoom and transcribed verbatim. Thematic, qualitative analysis was conducted using QDA Miner. Themes and subthemes that emerged were labeled, categorized, and compared to previously described determinants of general vaccine hesitancy: established contextual, individual and/or social influences, vaccine and vaccination-specific concerns. Themes (n = 9) and sub-themes (n = 51) identified during the qualitative analysis highlighted a factor’s contributing to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and poor vaccine uptake. Relevant influenceable factors were grouped into three main categories: confidence, complacency, and convenience. Vaccines are effective public health interventions to promote health and prevent diseases in rural areas. Practical solutions to engage healthcare providers, researchers, vaccine advocates, vaccine manufacturers, and other partners in local communities are needed to increase public trust in immunization systems to achieve community immunity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:54:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e8d9f484cbd148349439cdc3450e48b1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-9992 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:54:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-e8d9f484cbd148349439cdc3450e48b12022-12-22T04:20:24ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922022-11-01911810.1057/s41599-022-01439-3Factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy and reduced vaccine confidence in rural underserved populationsRenee Robinson0Elaine Nguyen1Melanie Wright2John Holmes3Catherine Oliphant4Kevin Cleveland5Mary A. Nies6College of Pharmacy, Idaho State UniversityCollege of Pharmacy, Idaho State UniversityCollege of Pharmacy, Idaho State UniversityCollege of Pharmacy, Idaho State UniversityCollege of Pharmacy, Idaho State UniversityCollege of Pharmacy, Idaho State UniversityCollege of Health, School of Nursing, Idaho State UniversityAbstract Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to limit the spread of infectious diseases, and reduce mortality and morbidity in rural areas. Waning public confidence in vaccines, especially the COVID-19 vaccine, remains a cause for concern. A number of individuals in the US and worldwide remain complacent, choosing not to be vaccinated and/or delay COVID-19 vaccination, resulting in suboptimal herd immunity. The primary goal of this study is to identify modifiable factors contributing to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among vaccine-eligible individuals with access to vaccines in two under-resourced rural states, Alaska and Idaho. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with providers and focus groups with community participants in Alaska and Idaho. A moderator’s guide was used to facilitate interviews and focus groups conducted and recorded using Zoom and transcribed verbatim. Thematic, qualitative analysis was conducted using QDA Miner. Themes and subthemes that emerged were labeled, categorized, and compared to previously described determinants of general vaccine hesitancy: established contextual, individual and/or social influences, vaccine and vaccination-specific concerns. Themes (n = 9) and sub-themes (n = 51) identified during the qualitative analysis highlighted a factor’s contributing to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and poor vaccine uptake. Relevant influenceable factors were grouped into three main categories: confidence, complacency, and convenience. Vaccines are effective public health interventions to promote health and prevent diseases in rural areas. Practical solutions to engage healthcare providers, researchers, vaccine advocates, vaccine manufacturers, and other partners in local communities are needed to increase public trust in immunization systems to achieve community immunity.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01439-3 |
| spellingShingle | Renee Robinson Elaine Nguyen Melanie Wright John Holmes Catherine Oliphant Kevin Cleveland Mary A. Nies Factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy and reduced vaccine confidence in rural underserved populations Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| title | Factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy and reduced vaccine confidence in rural underserved populations |
| title_full | Factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy and reduced vaccine confidence in rural underserved populations |
| title_fullStr | Factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy and reduced vaccine confidence in rural underserved populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy and reduced vaccine confidence in rural underserved populations |
| title_short | Factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy and reduced vaccine confidence in rural underserved populations |
| title_sort | factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy and reduced vaccine confidence in rural underserved populations |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01439-3 |
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