| Abstract [eng] |
This master’s thesis analyses the factors influencing individuals’ decisions to vaccinate or not to vaccinate, as well as the role of social policy in shaping vaccination policy. The relevance of the study is based on the fact that, despite the scientifically proven effectiveness of vaccines, vaccination coverage remains uneven across different population groups, while public distrust in institutions and the impact of misinformation are becoming increasingly evident. In this thesis, vaccination behaviour is examined as a complex phenomenon encompassing social, economic, psychological, and informational factors. The aim of the study is to analyse the factors that influence individuals’ decisions to vaccinate or not to vaccinate. The research is based on data from the 2019 European Commission survey “Eurobarometer 91.2”, which examines the relationships between vaccination behaviour and sociodemographic characteristics, trust in institutions, sources of information about vaccines, and misconceptions regarding vaccine safety. The research sample consists of n = 1004 residents of the Republic of Lithuania aged 15 years and older. Non-parametric statistical analysis methods were applied, including the Mann-Whitney U test and the chi-square test, as well as descriptive statistics. The literature review revealed that vaccination behaviour is most often analysed through the perspective of medicine and public health. Meanwhile, the role of social policy in vaccination processes in Lithuania and globally remains insufficiently explored. Scientific studies emphasise that the decision to vaccinate is influenced not only by the rational evaluation of official medical information but also by the social environment, trust in institutions, economic opportunities and psychological factors. The results of the data analysis indicate that vaccination behaviour is statistically significantly associated with respondents’ age, employment status, place of residence, trust in institutions and sources of information about vaccines. The findings suggest that increasing vaccination coverage requires the integration of vaccination into a broader social policy framework. |
