Factors affecting the refusal of childhood vaccines: A qualitative research

Background: Vaccines are one of the most important tools for public health. Vaccine rejection has been increasing in Turkey since 2015, and it is thought that it will cause epidemics in the short term. Purpose: To determine the reasons for childhood vaccines hesitation, the factors affecting vaccine rejection, and the main areas for formulating strategies to increase vaccine acceptance. Method: In-depth interviews, document analyses, and observation were used. Seven healthcare providers, six key people, and 12 vaccine refusal/hesitant parents were interviewed and analyzed by thematic content analysis. 13 vaccine-skeptical web content, two books for document analysis, two vaccine administrations for observation were selected and analyzed by simple descriptive analysis. Results: The most common reason for hesitation is mistrust of vaccines due to ingredients and side effects, followed by distrust of the state, pharmaceutical companies, and medicine mainly caused by financial and political interests, and lifestyle and beliefs rooting in natural living. Information disorder is also an important factor. It has been determined that the Covid-19 epidemic deepened parents' hesitations about vaccination. Conclusion: Vaccine hesitancy is a complex concept based on the distrust in vaccines and arises from the responsibility of parents to protect children. To increase vaccine acceptance, information disorder should be combated and trust in health authorities should be increased by ensuring transparency, accountability, and community participation in policy-making processes. Since it affects public health, it is necessary to discuss practices such as legal sanctions, social restrictions, and incentives, and to conduct studies investigating their positive and negative effects.