Table 7.

Illustrative quotes from the open-ended question exploring the reasons for not getting vaccinated against each disease, allocated in overarching themes. Participants’ number, sex and approximate age are presented for each quote.

Themes	Influenza	Tetanus	Pneumococcal Disease	Herpes Zoster	COVID-19
Absence of health professionals’ recommendation	“My doctor didn’t recommend it.” P381, woman, late 50s	“None recommended it to me.” P96, woman, late 30s	“My doctor didn’t recommend it.” P94, woman, early 70s	“It was not recommended.” P59, man, mid-60s
Perception of low susceptibility to disease	“I just turned 60 and until now I don’t get easily sick, not even from influenza.” P1, man, early 60s “I believe there is no need since I feel good about my health.” P122, man, early 60s	“I didn’t have any injuries.” P31, woman, early 50s “I don’t consider it necessary.” P72, man, early 40s “I didn’t hurt/cut myself to seek aid.” P268, woman, early 50s	“I believe there is no need since I feel good about my health.” P122, man, early 60s “I don’t want to do it yet.” P181, man, mid-60s “There was no need to vaccinate.” P241, man, late 60s	“I think I don’t need this.” P252, woman, mid-60s “As I contracted the disease in the past, I think I won’t get sick again.” P282, man, early 60s	“I don’t belong in a vulnerable group.” P107, woman, early 30s “I think it’s just like the flu.” P134, man, mid-50s “I believe in natural immunity through disease.” P224, man, mid-30s
Dispute of vaccine effectiveness	“I am against adult vaccination. I believe you get better immunity after contracting a disease.” P50, man, early 40s “I didn’t consider it necessary, as this vaccine doesn’t protect you from all variants.” P202, woman, mid-30s “I don’t think the vaccine will protect me.” P338, man, late 50s	“I don’t believe in the effectiveness of any vaccine.” P50, man, early 40s	“I don’t trust it.” P175, woman, early 70s		“I don’t think it’s necessary because of my age and because after a few months they cease protection, so they’re not effective enough.” P26, woman, late 20s “I don’t trust it.” P35, woman, mid-30s “Because I think this vaccine is a lie/mockery.” P50, man, early 40s “I didn’t want to do it because it’s new and I don’t trust its effectiveness.” P118, man, late 50s “Not enough research was done.” P119, woman, early 40s
Negligence	“I did it last year and [this year] I neglected it.” P88, woman, late 30s	“Negligence.” P3, woman, early 50s	“I neglected it. I will do it.” P287, man, early 70s	“Negligence” P274, woman, mid-60s
Insufficient information (regarding disease and/or vaccine)		“I am not informed.” P8, woman, mid-70s “I didn’t know it was needed.” P12, woman, late 30s “I did it in my youth. I didn’t know that it should be repeated.” P280, man, late 60s “I am not aware of this disease.” P116, man, early 80s “I don’t know what tetanus is.” P212, woman, early 60s	“I don’t know it.” P37 woman, mid-60s “I was never told about the second dose.” P58, woman, mid-60s “I didn’t know I had to do it.” P103, man, early 70s	“I am not informed.” P103, man, early 70s “I had no information about it.” P331, man, mid-60s
Distrust in authorities/opposition to obligatory vaccination					“They [authorities] lie.” P73, man, late 50s “I am against any obligation.” P4, woman, late 20s
Fear of side effects					“I’m afraid of the immediate and the future side effects.” P60, woman, early 30s “It is in an experimental stage, there are side effects and that’s why I’m afraid.” P83, woman, mid-50s “I’m afraid of side effects, e.g., thrombosis, and that I might have an allergy.” P269, woman, early 60s “I consider it dangerous for health.” P50, man, 43 years old