School of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom.
Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2023 Mar 6;18(3):e0277360. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277360. eCollection 2023.
To explore UK public decisions around whether or not to get COVID-19 vaccines, and the facilitators and barriers behind participants' decisions.
This qualitative study consisted of six online focus groups conducted between 15th March and 22nd April 2021. Data were analysed using a framework approach.
Focus groups took place via online videoconferencing (Zoom).
Participants (n = 29) were a diverse group (by ethnicity, age and gender) UK residents aged 18 years and older.
We used the World Health Organization's vaccine hesitancy continuum model to look for, and explore, three main types of decisions related to COVID-19 vaccines: vaccine acceptance, vaccine refusal and vaccine hesitancy (or vaccine delay). Two reasons for vaccine delay were identified: delay due to a perceived need for more information and delay until vaccine was "required" in the future. Nine themes were identified: three main facilitators (Vaccination as a social norm; Vaccination as a necessity; Trust in science) and six main barriers (Preference for "natural immunity"; Concerns over possible side effects; Perceived lack of information; Distrust in government;; Conspiracy theories; "Covid echo chambers") to vaccine uptake.
In order to address vaccine uptake and vaccine hesitancy, it is useful to understand the reasons behind people's decisions to accept or refuse an offer of a vaccine, and to listen to them and engage with, rather than dismiss, these reasons. Those working in public health or health communication around vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, in and beyond the UK, might benefit from incorporating the facilitators and barriers found in this study.
探索英国公众在是否接种 COVID-19 疫苗方面的决策，以及参与者决策背后的促进因素和障碍。
本定性研究由 2021 年 3 月 15 日至 4 月 22 日期间进行的六次在线焦点小组组成。使用框架方法分析数据。
焦点小组通过在线视频会议（Zoom）进行。
参与者（n=29）是英国年龄在 18 岁及以上的不同群体（按种族、年龄和性别划分）的居民。
我们使用世界卫生组织的疫苗犹豫连续体模型来寻找和探索与 COVID-19 疫苗相关的三种主要决策类型：疫苗接受、疫苗拒绝和疫苗犹豫（或疫苗延迟）。确定了疫苗延迟的两个原因：由于需要更多信息而延迟和直到未来疫苗“需要”时再延迟。确定了九个主题：三个主要促进因素（疫苗接种作为一种社会规范；疫苗接种作为一种必要；对科学的信任）和六个主要障碍（对“自然免疫力”的偏好；对可能的副作用的担忧；感知到的信息缺乏；对政府的不信任；阴谋论；“Covid 回音室”）对疫苗接种的影响。
为了解决疫苗接种率和疫苗犹豫问题，了解人们接受或拒绝接种疫苗的原因是很有用的，并且倾听他们的意见并与他们互动，而不是轻视这些原因。在英国内外从事疫苗（包括 COVID-19 疫苗）的公共卫生或卫生宣传工作的人员可能会受益于纳入本研究中发现的促进因素和障碍。
