Community Perspectives on New Vaccine Development Efforts in Türkiye

Background

Vaccines are among the most effective public health tools for preventing infectious diseases. This study aims to explore community perspectives on new vaccine development efforts in Türkiye.

Methods

This qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological design within the scope of the KORTUP (National Platform for Prevention and Treatment), TÜBİTAK 1004 Project in Türkiye. A total of thirty-five participants were recruited through snowball sampling, including 9 key informants, 12 healthcare professionals, and 14 community representatives, forming three distinct groups to ensure triangulation. Data collected through in-depth interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis with MAXQDA 24 software.

Results

Among key informants, the most prominent themes were public attitudes toward vaccines and national vaccine production capacity. Key codes included cold chain requirements, the need for multidisciplinary collaboration, concerns related to the rapid approval process during COVID-19, and prioritization of HPV and meningococcal vaccines. Among healthcare professionals, themes related to vaccine hesitancy and opposition were predominant. Frequently identified codes included conspiracy theories, the cost advantages of preventive medicine compared to treatment, demand for free vaccination, and the role of social media in public communication. Within the community group, themes of institutional trust, communication challenges, and media influence were most salient. Supportive participants emphasized the benefits of vaccination, whereas hesitant individuals highlighted concerns about production processes, perceived foreign dependency, conspiracy theories, and the need for transparent communication.

Conclusions

Across all groups, there was broad support for national vaccine production, along with a shared view that HPV and meningococcal vaccines should be prioritized.

Key messages

• Key informants stressed macro vaccine aspects (infrastructure, governance, financing), whereas healthcare professionals focused on field challenges like hesitancy and cost-effectiveness.

• Community members framed the issue primarily in terms of institutional trust, emphasizing the need for transparent communication and effective use of social media in vaccination campaigns.