Melissa Graboyes Camille CioffiHardin, Blake2022-09-282022-09-282022-06https://hdl.handle.net/1794/27514115 pagesPeople who use injection drugs are at greater risk of mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases, but express higher levels of vaccine hesitancy than the general public. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying common vaccine hesitancy motivators among people who inject drugs (PWID) is key to mitigating the mortality rate for the high-risk population. However, very little research has used qualitative methods to examine why PWID are often more vaccine hesitant. This thesis used 41 semi-structured interviews and 260 quantitative surveys with people who use drugs in Lane County to identify the most influential motivators of vaccine hesitancy. The interviews and surveys demonstrated a consistent connection between poor social determinants of health and reduced willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Using these findings, this thesis proposes a new model for assessing vaccine hesitancy among PWID that is directly informed by the actual experiences shared by collaborators in this project. Moreover, the findings of this thesis provide evidence for the need to address systemic barriers for marginalized communities in healthcare that decrease accessibility, trust, and confidence in health services.enCreative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0-USPublic HealthMixed-MethodsCOVID-19VaccinesVaccine HesitancyPeople who Inject DrugsLane County OregonThesis / Dissertation