Exploring COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Heads of the Household in Dir Lower, Pakistan

Abstract

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, efforts have been underway for the prevention of this disease. The vaccine is one of the ways to protect people from this pandemic but vaccine hesitancy among people is creating hurdles in attaining herd immunity against Covid-19. Vaccine hesitancy varies by socio-cultural and demographic factors among countries. Thus, the decision of the head of the household may have a significant role in successful immunization against this disease. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore factors described by the head of the household associated with vaccine hesitancy in Dir Lower, Pakistan. A qualitative methodology is used, such as interviewing the male head of the household through a purposive sampling technique. Overall, 17 persons were interviewed. In-person interviews were conducted with each participant. Collected qualitative interviews were analyzed thematically. Results indicate two main factors: Mistrust of state and global COVID-19 preventive measures with the perception of mass killing and denial of COVID-19 as a pandemic by providing the alternative perspective that it is a normal flu, not a fatal disease and the belief of a fixed time of death comes to one.

Keywords: Socio-Cultural Factors Covid-19 pandemic, disease, Qualitative, vaccine