POSSIBILITIES TO OVERCOME NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TOWARDS IMMUNIZATION AGAINST COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Surveys of public sentiments show that Bulgarians are the most skeptical about immunizations against Coronavirus, due to which our country takes one of the last places in the EU in terms of vaccination coverage. The aim of the study was to identify the reasons for negative attitudes and to formulate recommendations for effective solutions that raise the reliable public awareness and minimize skepticism. Both documentary and sociological methods were used in the study. 459 people were interviewed and 43 in-depth interviews were conducted within the period of November-December 2021. Conclusions and recommendations: The absence, for a long time, of a national system-structured information campaign and the later misconducted one, combined with a wave of infodemic, are the main reasons for the negative sentiments about the vaccination against Covid-19. The creation of permanent information centers in settlements and the opportunity for personal contact of citizens with locally proven medical authorities will help to overcome the negative attitudes. Copyright © 2022, Central Medical Library Medical University - Sofia. All rights reserved.