ДЕТЕРМИНАНТИ НА РЕШЕНИЕТО ЗА ВАКСИНАЦИЯ СРЕЩУ COVID-19 В БЪЛГАРИЯ. (Bulgarian)

Purpose: As vaccine hesitancy grows and anti-vaccine sentiment intensifies, it is essential to understand the determinants of vaccine acceptance in order to develop and implement strategies for increasing immunization coverage. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors determining COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Bulgaria. Material and Methods: Between April and May 2022 a cross-sectional study of 1,200 adults was conducted using a self-administered online survey disseminated via social media and email. The questionnaire assessed individual perceptions of effectiveness and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, risk of infection, individual preferences and attitudes towards immunization, attitudes towards preventive measures, and demographic and socio-economic characteristics. Binomial logistic regression was employed to identify the factors influencing vaccine acceptance; in addition, the relationship between perceived vaccine-related risk and benefit and vaccination decision was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test for independent samples. Results: Respondents who did not report COVID-19 sickness prior to the study (OR = 6.45; p < 0.001), those who fully approved the epidemic response (OR = 4.08; p = 0.01) and those who believed that vaccines generally protect against infections (OR = 5.17; p = 0.004) were more likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The high perceived benefits for personal health (OR = 23.52; p < 0.001), normalization of everyday life (OR = 5.24; p < 0.001) and the low perceived risk of vaccine-related side effects (OR = 4.04; p = 0.002) increased the likelihood of vaccine uptake. Among demographic and socioeconomic variables, age and income were associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Conclusion: The low immunization coverage in Bulgaria is shaped by multiple factors, with the decision to vaccinate strongly influenced by perceived vaccine characteristics. Proactive communication campaigns with straightforward and unambiguous messages and credible information are needed to overcome mistrust and hesitancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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