Informing efforts beyond tailored promotional campaigns by understanding contextual factors shaping vaccine hesitancy among equity-deserving populations in Canada: an exploratory qualitative study

• Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health
• Main Authors: Lena G. Nascimento, Ève Dubé, Kathleen E. Burns, Patrick Brown, Michael Calnan, Paul R. Ward, Eric Filice, Hoda Herati, Nnenna A. U. Ike, Bobbi Rotolo, Samantha B. Meyer
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2023
• Subjects: COVID-19; Equity-deserving groups; Marginalized groups; Canada; Vaccine hesitancy; Contextual factors; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; First Nations; inuit
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-023-02025-y; https://doaj.org/article/598b1c3de1e6434987eadafb9c984f69

Abstract Background Vaccine hesitancy exists on a continuum ranging between complete adherence and complete refusal due to doubts or concerns within a heterogeneous group of individuals. Despite widespread acknowledgement of the contextual factors influencing attitudes and beliefs shaping COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, qualitative research with equity-deserving groups, accounting for unique lived experiences, remains a gap in the literature. We aim to identify and begin to understand and document the unique contextual factors shaping hesitancy by equity-deserving groups as it relates to relationships with government and health authorities. Methods Participants were recruited and interviewed between Aug-Dec 2021. Semi-structured interviews using a convergent interviewing technique were conducted with individuals from the general population, as well as individuals who identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit, members of the LGBT2SQ + community, low-income Canadians, Black Canadians, and newcomers. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed by a team of researchers. Memos were written following interviews and used to complement the thematic analysis of the interview data. Themes are presented in the results section. Results The rationale for hesitancy among equity-deserving groups is consistent with literature documenting hesitancy in the general population. Contextual factors surrounding equity-deserving groups’ attitudes and beliefs, however, are unique and relate to a history of oppression, discrimination, and genocide. We identified factors unique to subgroups; for example, religious or fatalistic beliefs among participant who identify as FNMI, fear associated with lack of testing and speed of vaccines’ production among participants who identify as FNMI, Black, and LGBT2SQ + , distrust of the healthcare system for LGBT2SQ + and Black Canadians, and distrust of the government and opposition to vaccine mandates for participating who identify as LGBT2SQ + , low-income, FNMI, or Black Canadian. Newcomers stood ...