Taking Stock of COVID-19 Vaccination Roll-out in 17 countries (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Vaccination has been successful tool in the fight against infectious diseases for a long time. Since SARS-CoV-2 virus created global pandemic and has become imminent threat to health and lives of people, the need for creation of vaccine and its implementation among population was evident. Due to the urgent matter and joint forces of experts all over the globe, vaccine was developed rapidly. However, vaccination policies showed different success rates in terms of vaccinated people and some also led to increased vaccine hesitancy. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to identify the role of knowledge and context in various vaccination programs throughout the initial COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in different countries. Moreover, its aim was to identify factors in national vaccination programs related to the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, safety, and effectiveness. To do so transdisciplinary and transnational responses from Navigating Knowledge Landscape (NKL) network members were analyzed. METHODS In May and July 2021, 25 responses from 27 NKL members were collected. These contributors were from 17 different countries and in their responses, they reflected on the status and details of the COVID-19 vaccination in their countries. The specific focus of this study was the part inspired by SWOT framework, where contributors were asked to identify potential strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the vaccination programs in each of their countries. The responses were analyzed employing the method of reflexive thematic analysis, and the frequency analysis of identified themes was done according to the represented countries. As a result, 25 different themes were established. RESULTS Results showed a link between organizational elements of the vaccination roll-out and the accompanying societal response, both of which were related to the process's strengths and weaknesses. On the other hand, external sociocultural variables, improved public communication of vaccination-related issues, ethical controversies, and disinformation spreading dominated as the opportunities and challenges. CONCLUSIONS Inventory of themes inspired by the SWOT elements represents informative resource for effective implementation of public health strategies in the battle against COVID-19.