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Table 3 Themes derived from participant responses

From: Maternal perceptions of childhood vaccination: explanations of reasons for and against vaccination

Perspective

Why Vaccinate

Why Not Vaccinate/Delay

Theme 1

Sources of Influence

 Subtheme

Experience

Experience

  Category

 Personal and Others

 Personal and Others

 Family member perspective on vaccinating

 Family member perspective on vaccinating

 Subtheme

External Sources

External Sources

  Categories

 Trust

 Lack of Trust

 Pressured

 Pressured

 Opportunity

 Consulted with health professional

 Social norm

 

Theme 2

Deliberative Processes

 Subtheme

Risk

Risk

  Categories

 Necessary

 Unnecessary

 

 Natural immunity

 

 Immune system needs to mature

 Protection/Prevention/Precaution

 

 Travel

 

 Healthier with them

 Healthier without them

 Safety

 Safety

  Peace of mind

  Concern about vaccine contents

 

  Number of shots

  Autism/ Allergy Issues

 Subtheme

Research

Research

  Category

 It’s smart

 

 Subtheme

Effectiveness

Effectiveness

  Category

 Effective

 Concern with effectiveness

 Subtheme

Balancing risks and benefits

Balancing risks and benefits

  Category

 Benefits outweigh the risks

 Risks outweigh the benefits

 Subtheme

Responsibility

Choice

  Categories

 Personal

 Personal

 Social altruism

 
 

Instrumental/Practical

 

 Just haven’t yet

 

 Difficult to take time off of work

 

 Busy clinic

 

Health Issues

 

 Sick at time of shot

 

 Waiting until breastfeeding is complete

 

 Waiting for child to put more weight on