Evaluation of reasons of healthcare professionals for not being vaccinated against COVID-19: A qualitative study

The importance of immunization, which is one of the public health interventions, has increased even more during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reasons of healthcare professional for not being vaccinated against COVID-19, and to develop solutions for the identified causes. This thesis study is a descriptive study using qualitative research techniques. It was carried out between July 2021 and October 2021 with the health professional working in Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University. In-depth interviews were conducted with 32 participants and 5 key people selected by the maximum diversity method. We determined that healthcare professionals prefer not to have the COVID-19 vaccine for many different reasons. In this study, 4 main themes have been reached regarding the reasons for these hesitations and delays in vaccination: COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination-related reasons, individual reasons, contextual reasons, and general issues related to vaccine/vaccination. Under the theme of "COVID-19 vaccine and reasons related to vaccination", issues related to vaccine production and insecurity subthemes come to the fore. The rapidity of vaccine production, side effects in the sub-theme of insecurity, thinking that it would not be effective, and belief in insufficient data were the most emphasized reasons. Under the theme of "Individual reasons-Group effect", the sub-theme of risk perception is at the forefront. Having COVID-19, thinking that he/she is healthy have been the most reported reasons. Under the main theme of "Contextual reasons", sub-themes of policies and infodemic come to the fore. Distrust in the health system and conspiracy theories were the most emphasized reasons. Under the main theme of "vaccination/vaccination-related general issues", the most emphasized reasons were the general reluctance to use drugs and the belief that there should be natural immunity. It has been seen that the uncertainty, infodemi and insecurity that emerged especially during the pandemic period are related to each other. It has been seen that uncertainty facilitates the spread of false information, which in turn triggers distrust. Likewise, it has been observed that knowledge/awareness is associated with risk perception. As knowledge and awareness about the disease increase, there is an increase in risk perception. For this reason, social information studies should be increased and physicians should be enabled to use media tools more effectively.