In health behavior models, what factor may prevent individuals from getting vaccinated?

Perceived barriers are critical in influencing health behavior, such as vaccination uptake. When individuals assess the potential obstacles that may prevent them from getting vaccinated, they consider various factors, such as the cost of vaccination, access to healthcare services, time constraints, fear of side effects, or a lack of information about the vaccine’s efficacy. If these perceived barriers are substantial in a person's mind, they may choose not to get vaccinated, regardless of their susceptibility to disease or awareness of the benefits of vaccination.

This concept suggests that even when people understand the personal risk of infection (perceived susceptibility) or recognize the benefits of vaccination (perceived benefits), they may still refrain from vaccination if they believe the barriers to getting vaccinated are too high. Self-efficacy, which refers to an individual’s confidence in their ability to take a specific action, also plays a role; however, without addressing perceived barriers, overcoming self-efficacy challenges might still lead to inaction regarding vaccination.