“It seems impossible that it’s been made so quickly”: a qualitative investigation of concerns about the speed of COVID-19 vaccine development and how these may be overcome

ABSTRACT

The speed of COVID-19 vaccine development has been identified as a central concern contributing to hesitancy in acceptance. We conducted qualitative interviews to gain a greater understanding into these concerns and to identify what might address them. Twelve qualitative interviews were conducted with participants identifying as hesitant for COVID-19 vaccination and reporting concern about the speed of vaccine development. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used. Concerns about speed comprised the linked themes of i) difficulty understanding the pace, and, ii) worry about the implications for vaccine safety. Uncertainties concerning the pandemic led to a notable desire for credible and understandable information regarding the vaccines, which many participants felt was not available. Four routes to resolving uncertainty about whether to be vaccinated were identified. First, waiting for more information about the vaccines, such as about their contents and impact on transmission. Second, a growing perception that the vaccines must be safe given the large numbers already vaccinated. Third, viewing the vaccines as necessary – even if unappealing – for ending the pandemic. Finally, a feeling that there would be no choice but to have a vaccine. Examples of what might reduce hesitancy were given, including interviews with vaccine developers and knowing others of similar age having safely been vaccinated. The pace of development broke expectations set earlier in the pandemic. This was interpreted negatively due to a perceived lack of credible information. Most participants could envisage ways their concerns could be resolved, enough for them to have a vaccine.

KEYWORDS:

• Vaccine-hesitancy
• Covid-19
• qualitative
• IPA
• speed of development

Disclosure statement

AJP is Chair of UK Dept. Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) Joint Committee on Vaccination & Immunisation (JCVI), but does not participate in discussions on COVID-19 vaccines, and is a member of the WHO’s SAGE. Oxford University has entered into a partnership with Astra Zeneca for the development of a coronavirus vaccine. No other team members report conflicts of interest.

Author contributions

PB, DF, and FW conceived the study with input from ML on the use of IPA. PB collected all data and analysed the results with input from ML, DF, and FW. PB wrote the first draft of the manuscript, with contributions from DF and ML. DF, AP, HM, SL, & FW obtained study funding. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The project was funded by a grant from the University of Oxford COVID-19 Research Response Fund [Project Reference: 0009519]. It also received support from the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre. Daniel Freeman is a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. Felicity Waite is funded by a Wellcome Trust Clinical Doctoral Fellowship [102176/B/13/Z]. The investigators acknowledge the philanthropic support of the donors to the University of Oxford’s COVID-19 Research Response Fund.