“Covid-19 Vaccination Perceptions Among the Population in Kosovo[1] and Interventions”

Aims: Understand population perceptions in Kosovo[1] on COVID-19 vaccination over time.Methods: This research is based on a set of five representative repeated cross-sectional surveys fielded in Kosovo[1] over the course of the pandemic using CATI. Each survey included a sample of approximately 1000 respondents. The respondents were from Kosovo[1], over 18 years old, representative by gender, place of residence, age group and level of education. The analysis of the data included descriptive statistics, hierarchical cluster analysis, segmentation and logistic regressions. Ethical approvals were obtained.Results: Self-reported intention to vaccinate increased after the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines in Kosovo[1], beginning in April 2021, and continued to do so. During the first wave, when COVID-19 vaccines were not yet introduced to the world, overall acceptance was fairly low. Over half (53%) said they would not get vaccinated if a vaccine became available and was recommended for them, while 36% said they would. In the second wave, 38% of the population indicated they had positive vaccine intentions, while the third wave showed 45%, and in the fourth wave 53% of respondents said they would get vaccinated. During the fifth wave of study, when COVID-19 vaccines were available, 21% of the respondents indicated they were already vaccinated. Among those not yet vaccinated, 66% indicated that they would definitely vaccinate. Predictors for accepting vaccine were: gender, where men were more likely to indicate positive intentions, particularly those above 50 years, people with chronic illness, people who trusted public health authority or medical sector more; while being female at younger age, not trusting public health authority or the medical sector, not working in health care, thinking the pandemic was media hyped, perceiving the virus was spreading slowly and searching for information on COVID-19 less often were some of the predictors for non-acceptance of vaccines.Conclusion: Identification of people’s perceptions, experiences and responses to COVID-19 allows for guided decision-making for appropriate information and public health measures to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in general, and the COVID-19 vaccination process in particular. The collection of population level insights is essential to support evidence-based policy making, especially during outbreak response.