COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Trinidad and Tobago: A Qualitative Study

BackgroundAfter three years of COVID-19, the WHO declared that the pandemic was no longer a global health emergency. Vaccination remains part of the management strategy, given the current phase of the pandemic. This study explored the reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Trinidad and Tobago (TT).MethodologyA qualitative study of persons 18 years and over from the eastern, northwest, northcentral, and southwestern geographical areas of TT, who are unvaccinated and hesitant, was done by convenience sampling. Formal in-depth virtual interviews were done on a one-to-one basis using a semi-structured questionnaire. The interviews were recorded and transcribed using the principles of reflexive thematic analysis of participants' responses.ResultsFrom 25 participants' responses, the main themes for being vaccine-hesitant were fear, inefficacy, information inadequacy, perceived susceptibility, mistrust, herbal alternatives, and religious hesitations. Additionally, their motivations for receiving the vaccine in the future were surrounded by themes of necessity, perceived susceptibility, health benchmark, and assurance.Conclusion and recommendationsThis qualitative investigation identified traditional factors contributing to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and unique determinants such as herbal use and religious beliefs within the TT context. These insights could inform future research and facilitate the development of tailored strategies to address persistent vaccine hesitancy for COVID-19.