“And a huge factor is …, the people around them”: Sources of information about COVID-19 vaccines among migrants in Australia.

Abstract

Abstract Background To empower all members of society to protect their health, they should have access to accurate and timely information about COVID-19 vaccines. This study aimed to explore the information sources migrants used to learn about COVID-19 vaccines. Methods Seventeen adults living in Australia and born in the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean Region participated in a semi-structured interview via telephone. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results Migrants used a variety of sources of information including official organisations and health professionals, social media and personal networks and experiential. They emphasised the importance of personal networks and the reliability of the information collected from experiencing or witnessing COVID-19 vaccine outcomes in shaping their understanding of the risks and benefits of COVID-19 vaccines. Conclusion Strategies need to be designed to provide accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines through personal networks including engament of community leaders to share accurate experiential information in all stages of the vaccination program. Routine information needs assessment and understanding migrants’ information gathering capacity can be helpful in communicating information about COVID-19 vaccines or other pandemic strategies in the future.