title: Socio-psychological factors driving adult vaccination: a qualitative study.
abstract: While immunization is one of the most effective and successful public health interventions, there are still up to 30,000 deaths in major developed economies each year due to vaccine-preventable diseases, almost all in adults. In the UK, despite comparatively high vaccination rates among ≥65 s (73%) and, to a lesser extent, at-risk ≤65 s (52%) in 2013/2014, over 10,000 excess deaths were reported the previous influenza season. Adult tetanus vaccines are not routinely recommended in the UK, but may be overly administered. Social influences and risk-perceptions of diseases and vaccines are known to affect vaccine uptake. We aimed to explore the socio-psychological factors that drive adult vaccination in the UK, specifically influenza and tetanus, and to evaluate whether these factors are comparable between vaccines.
  
  
  
  20 in-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted with members of the UK public who represented a range of socio-demographic characteristics associated with vaccination uptake. We employed qualitative interviewing approaches to reach a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing adult vaccination decisions. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.
  
  
  
  Participants were classified according to their vaccination status as regular, intermittent and non-vaccinators for influenza, and preventative, injury-led, mixed (both preventative and injury-led) and as non-vaccinators for tetanus. We present our finding around five overarching themes: 1) perceived health and health behaviors; 2) knowledge; 3) vaccination influences; 4) disease appraisal; and 5) vaccination appraisal.
  
  
  
  The uptake of influenza and tetanus vaccines was largely driven by participants' risk perception of these diseases. The tetanus vaccine is perceived as safe and sufficiently tested, whereas the changing composition of the influenza vaccine is a cause of uncertainty and distrust. To maximize the public health impact of adult vaccines, policy should be better translated into high vaccination rates through evidence-based implementation approaches.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wheelock
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parand
authors.affiliation: Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France; Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rigole
authors.affiliation: Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France; Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Angus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: Imperial College Business School, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miraldo
authors.affiliation: Imperial College Business School, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sevdalis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D066252:Sociological Factors; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid