Challenges of COVID‐19 vaccination program in rural areas of Eastern Indonesia: A qualitative study from a multistakeholder perspective

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AbstractThis research aimed to explore the challenges of the COVID‐19 vaccination program from the perspective of multiple stakeholders in rural areas of eastern Indonesia. This qualitative participatory action research involved 115 participants selected from various groups in 20 subdistricts across five provinces, including Health Service workers, police staff monitoring the vaccination program, religious figures, and adult and youth community leaders. Furthermore, focus group discussion was conducted using semi‐structured interview guidelines based on the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) for vaccine and immunization model. The manifest content approach was employed to analyze the visible contents within the text. Implementation of the vaccination program was complicated by contextual, individual, and group factors, as well as vaccine and vaccination‐specific factors. The contextual factors were socioeconomic, religious, and cultural conditions, changes in government policies, and geographical and climatic obstacles. Meanwhile, examples of group and individual factors were people's beliefs of COVID‐19 being harmless and their invulnerability to the disease, along with misinformation and disinformation about vaccination, and fatalistic attitudes. Factors related to the vaccine and vaccination process include limited vaccine supplies, inadequate supporting facilities, and insufficient administration of vaccines. Multiple and complex challenges of COVID‐19 vaccination in the rural areas of eastern Indonesia need attention from the local and national government, as well as other parties including the private sector, socio‐religious figures and organizations, and the media.