Barriers to Vaccination Among Older Adults in Washington County, Tennessee
Abstract
The purpose of this research project was to identify and understand the key barriers to vaccination uptake among older adults in Washington County, Tennessee. Research was performed at the Johnson City Senior Center, and results were presented to their Advisory Council to inform future activities and education for their members. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases due to age-related immune decline and higher rates of chronic conditions. Despite vaccination being a critical preventive measure, older adults often face unique challenges that hinder access. Additionally, older adult vaccination data is limited for Washington County, showing a need for localized research. This study examined the barriers from two perspectives: older adults themselves and individuals who work closely with older adults. Based on the review of existing literature, it was hypothesized that transportation, cost, time, and misinformation would be prominent barriers. The first phase of this project included semi-structured key informant interviews with 15 adults aged 60 years and older. Interviews were conducted in person at the senior center using an interview guide following the structure of the Health Belief Model (HBM), which includes perceived susceptibility, severity, barriers, benefits, cues to action, and self-efficacy. The second phase consisted of a focus group over Zoom with two professionals who work closely with the older adult population, and questions followed the HBM and mirrored older adult interviews. Overall, traditional access barriers like cost, transportation, and time were not major concerns for most older adult participants. Instead, information-related barriers were most significant, including misinformation, limited access to trustworthy vaccine information, and distrust in healthcare systems. While many participants believed vaccines were effective, hesitancy often stemmed from uncertainty about safety and difficulty identifying reliable information. Focus group participants echoed these findings and emphasized the importance of healthcare providers in providing vaccine information and promoting uptake.
Start Time
15-4-2026 1:30 PM
End Time
15-4-2026 4:30 PM
Room Number
Culp Ballroom 316
Poster Number
6
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Subtype
Posters - Competitive
Presentation Category
Health
Student Type
Undergraduate Student
Faculty Mentor
Christen Minnick
Barriers to Vaccination Among Older Adults in Washington County, Tennessee
Culp Ballroom 316
The purpose of this research project was to identify and understand the key barriers to vaccination uptake among older adults in Washington County, Tennessee. Research was performed at the Johnson City Senior Center, and results were presented to their Advisory Council to inform future activities and education for their members. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases due to age-related immune decline and higher rates of chronic conditions. Despite vaccination being a critical preventive measure, older adults often face unique challenges that hinder access. Additionally, older adult vaccination data is limited for Washington County, showing a need for localized research. This study examined the barriers from two perspectives: older adults themselves and individuals who work closely with older adults. Based on the review of existing literature, it was hypothesized that transportation, cost, time, and misinformation would be prominent barriers. The first phase of this project included semi-structured key informant interviews with 15 adults aged 60 years and older. Interviews were conducted in person at the senior center using an interview guide following the structure of the Health Belief Model (HBM), which includes perceived susceptibility, severity, barriers, benefits, cues to action, and self-efficacy. The second phase consisted of a focus group over Zoom with two professionals who work closely with the older adult population, and questions followed the HBM and mirrored older adult interviews. Overall, traditional access barriers like cost, transportation, and time were not major concerns for most older adult participants. Instead, information-related barriers were most significant, including misinformation, limited access to trustworthy vaccine information, and distrust in healthcare systems. While many participants believed vaccines were effective, hesitancy often stemmed from uncertainty about safety and difficulty identifying reliable information. Focus group participants echoed these findings and emphasized the importance of healthcare providers in providing vaccine information and promoting uptake.
