VACCINE CONVINCING STUDY: A COUNTY EXAMPLE

Abstract

Vaccines are among the greatest achievements of medicine to humanity and have saved the lives of millions of people to date. In the past, it has been observed that the devastating effects of epidemics caused many social, geographical, economic and cultural effects. Our aim in this study; In order to start the normalization process in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was aimed to inform people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 about the harms of vaccine refusal in terms of individual and public health. In this cross-sectional study, people who refused vaccination were called by phone and informed after their consent was obtained. Interviews were held between 01.06.2021 and 01.10.2021, and their views on vaccine rejection were investigated. 4357 people who had not been vaccinated until 01.06.2021 were called by phone. 58.8% (n:2564) of the participants were female and 41.2% (n:1793) were male. The participants in the study were between the ages of 18-65. 79% (n:3446) of the participants were convinced to vaccinate, and 67% (n:2922) of them were found to be vaccinated in subsequent phone calls. 6.5% (n:282) of the participants stated that they would not be vaccinated if they were not convinced about the vaccine; 5.7% (n:247) of them were undecided about getting vaccinated. While it was determined that 4 people died recently; 8.7%(n:378) could not be reached due to the wrong phone number. In our study, it was observed that some of them could be convinced and their ideas changed if enlightening information was given about the COVID-19 pandemic so that the normalization process in our country could be passed quickly. Considering the individual and social benefits of vaccines, the importance of studies to reduce vaccine rejection rates emerges.