AUTHOR=Inam Ayesha , Mushtaq Asia , Zaman Sahira , Wasif Samia , Noor Mah , Khan Hania Asghar 

TITLE=Vaccine hesitancy and post-vaccination adherence to safety measures: A mixed-method study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1072740

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1072740

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Background: Despite being recognized as one of the most successful public health measures, vaccination is still considered to be unnecessary and unreliable in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.  The current study utilized two-pronged approach in analyzing vaccine hesitancy and health behaviors after vaccination by employing a mixed method design. Phase-1 was aimed at identifying predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and acceptance among Pakistani population using Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) whereas Phase-II was aimed to explore the factors related to vaccination of COVID-19.
Method: A convenient sample of 1736 individuals from vaccine eligible population (12 years and above) was selected to collect data on vaccine hesitancy and acceptance (Phase-1). Phase-2 of the study explored post vaccination health behaviors specifically adherence to safety measures for COVID-19 through 23 in-depth interviews from vaccinated population. 
Results: Multiple regression analyses showed that response cost is major predictor of vaccine hesitancy (in Phase-1). In terms of role of demographic variables, the results showed that male gender (for severity: B=-.481; threat appraisal: B=-.737), old age (B=-.044), not vaccinated , and not infected with COVID (themselves and family members) are strongly associated with vaccination hesitancy. Results of thematic analysis in Phase-2 revealed that perceived individual experience and insensitivity towards severity of the disease are strongly associated with lack of adherence to safety measures of COVID-19. Faith and religious beliefs, reliance on traditional remedies are also key predictors of people’s general non-compliance to health behaviors. One interesting aspect that was revealed in the analysis was the general financial and social destabilized situation in developing countries context that contributes to general apathy to pandemic situation. 
Conclusion: The findings of the current study may help in devising a health model for public from developing world to deal with future pandemic situations.