In the Face of a Pandemic: “I Felt the Same as When the War Started”—A Qualitative Study on COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Objectives: To conduct qualitative study with different target groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to explore their views on barriers and drivers for COVID-19 vaccination, and to see if and how barriers and drivers vary between urban and rural locations, and different professional roles.Methods: The theoretical framework underpinning the study is the capability-opportunity-motivation (COM-B) behavior change framework, which has been adapted to monitor vaccine related behavior and attitudes. Data was collected from June to September 2022 through moderated discussions in focus groups. The total of 162 participants participated in 16 focus groups.Results: Among the key barriers to successful immunization identified across target groups were insufficient knowledge about vaccines, pandemic fatigue, concerns about the rapid development of the vaccine and its effectiveness, lack of confidence in the healthcare system. Some of the main drivers of vaccination against COVID-19 were confidence in science and expert recommendations.Conclusion: The COVID-19 immunization policy undergoes continuous changes, as do the pandemic prospects; we encourage further research to track the evolution of vaccine related attitudes, inform immunization policy, and create evidence-based interventions.