Lived Experiences of Anti-COVID Vaccine Health Beliefs for Americans Who Forgo COVID-19 Vaccine

Date of Conferral

10-25-2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Ethel Perry

Abstract

Since the initial cases in early 2020, COVID-19 has grown from an outbreak to an epidemic to a pandemic. At that same time, it has grown from a public health crisis to a political debate touching on personal liberty, individual freedom, and government overreach. Little research has been conducted into the lived experiences of individuals who despite warnings from media and healthcare practitioners chose to forgo vaccination against COVID-19. This study aims to fill that gap to better understand the how and why of this phenomenon using a qualitative approach framed in a modified health belief model and based on hermeneutical phenomenology. Using this methodological lens, a sample of 16 subjects permanently residing in Washington County Maine were recruited by a flyer for in-person interviews. Criteria for inclusion were aged 30 to 70 years, non-institutionalized, English speaking, displayed no self-reported cognitive impairment and opted out of COVID-19 vaccination. All responses were transcribed verbatim via digital recording, unspoken communications were collected with field notes, and all responses were coded in vivo and coded before entered into Excel to be analyzed thematically. Findings were revealed in several themes including how public health messaging, news and social media, and politics impacted their perceptions and behaviors surrounding vaccination for COVID-19. The implications for positive social change include a better understanding of vaccination hesitation, social media messaging, and public health campaigns.

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