Exploring the drivers of hesitancy toward coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine among Syrian refugees residing in Mount Lebanon: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES

Refugee populations had a lower uptake of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, partly because of vaccine hesitancy. Individual acceptability of vaccination is deeply tied with one's socio-cultural context. This study aimed to explore the reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among middle-aged adults of Syrian refugees in Mount Lebanon.

METHODS

The study used a qualitative design with a non-probability convenience sampling approach. 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2022 among middle-aged Syrian refugees recruited from two primary health care centers in Mount Lebanon. Data was analyzed inductively using thematic content analysis.

RESULTS

Five key drivers for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy were revealed: limited knowledge, the COVID-19 vaccine's non-mandatory status, socio-cultural factors, limited access to health professionals, and negative perceptions of the way pharmaceutical companies developed the vaccines. Limited knowledge about COVID-19 functioned as a foundational factor influencing other drivers of hesitancy, including fear, mistrust, and susceptibility to misinformation and infodemics. Participants emphasized that improving access to accurate and understandable information about the COVID-19 vaccine may help address misinformation and reduce hesitancy.

CONCLUSION

The study highlights the need for public health professionals to address vaccine hesitancy barriers to optimize vaccine intake and protect the community health among refugees.