Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Immigrants in Finland : Implication for Global Health

Abstract

The aim of the study is to enhance the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines among immigrant populations in Finland and in low-income countries. The objectives include to understand the perspective of covid-19 vaccine hesitancy among immigrants’ population living in Finland, to determine the factors responsible for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the target group, to find the target group-based ideas and solutions to COVID-19 and other vaccine hesitancy, and to recommend a future vaccine hesitancy intervention and health campaign framework tailored in the participants’ ideas and solutions. The study is a Master’s degree thesis of Global health and Crisis management of Laurea University of Applied Sciences beneficial to the immigrant communities in Finland and to low-income countries and the global health community.

The need to eradicate COVID-19 necessitated and renewed the effort to manage ever rising vaccine hesitancy among immigrant population in Finland specifically and the low-income countries generally. Understanding the deep-rooted causes of hesitancy among the target population and adopting intervention programmes tailored in their own ideas and values is believed to be a long stride towards improved global health through immunization. Understanding the historical development, challenges and successes associated with vaccines and vaccination is a key to managing apathies, rejections and hesitancy that currently affect the effective deployment of vaccines.

A qualitative study method involving interviews was used. Data were collected for the study in a structured and result-oriented manner. Semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions were used to collect data from the key informants. Data were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis method.

The study found distrust of the COVID-19 vaccine arising from combination of multiple factors, elevated level of ignorance complicated by both disinformation and misinformation, religious and cultural beliefs affecting personal choices as the main factors responsible for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the immigrants living in Finland. Proper and targeted education of the population on the critical components of the vaccine and vaccination, massive sensitization of the populace and campaign against propaganda using familiar and trusted professional members of their society as well as improved vaccine research and clinical trials and localization of vaccine production are the suggested solutions to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

The study recommends that in construction of future health campaign and sensitization, that Global healthcare planners should focus on implementing targeted education, with massive sensitization involving trusted members of the community. Also recommended is an improved vaccine research and localized production of vaccines, to effectively improve COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among the African immigrants and in other low-income countries and consequently reduce hesitancy.

Keywords: COVID-19, Vaccine hesitancy, Immigrants, Intervention programmes, Finland