Barriers and facilitators to COVID-19 vaccination programme implementation in Ireland: a qualitative study of implementation stakeholders using CFIR

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dc.contributor.authorKandulu, Chikondi C.
dc.contributor.authorFleming, Aoife
dc.contributor.authorO'Mahony, Aoife
dc.contributor.authorMcHugh, Sheena
dc.contributor.authorShorter, Gillian W.
dc.contributor.authorBerry, Emma
dc.contributor.authorShields, Caoimhe
dc.contributor.authorSahar, Najam
dc.contributor.authorMoore, Anne C.
dc.contributor.authorSahm, Laura J.
dc.contributor.funderHigher Education Authority
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-15T10:50:02Z
dc.date.available2026-07-15T10:50:02Z
dc.date.issued2026-08-30
dc.description.abstractBackground: Effective vaccine implementation strategies are critical for successful deployment of national vaccination programmes, particularly during public health emergencies such as COVID-19. Reflecting on implementation can facilitate future pandemic preparedness and health system resilience. Aim: This study interviewed key implementation stakeholders to identify factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine implementation in Ireland. Methods: Online semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen stakeholders involved in policy or decision-making regarding COVID-19 vaccine implementation at national, regional, and local levels in the Republic of Ireland. The updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) guided data collection and framework analysis, to identify perceived implementation barriers and facilitators. Results: Factors across innovation, process, individual, and organisational domains shaped implementation. Delayed or evolving evidence, alongside vaccine design and complexity, presented barriers. Process-related factors were influential, including adapting delivery approaches (e.g. scaling up to mass vaccination centres), engaging vaccine deliverers (e.g. in acute settings, pharmacy, and general practice), engaging recipients, and planning to operationalise vaccination at scale. Individual factors included opinion leaders, motivation and professional capability. Within the inner setting (Irish government and health system), resource availability, organisational infrastructure, policy frameworks, relational connections, communication, and access to information were critical for delivery. Outer setting factors, including partnerships and policy direction, were also influential. Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccine implementation in Ireland was shaped by various system, organisational, and individual factors, alongside rapid adaptation. These findings highlight the importance of sustained investment in staffing, organisational infrastructure, and coordinated policy frameworks to support effective vaccination programmes and strengthen preparedness for future public health emergencies.en
dc.description.versionPublished Version
dc.format.extent18
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.articleid128909
dc.identifier.authororcidKandulu, Chikondi C.
dc.identifier.authororcidFleming, Aoife§0000-0001-5330-951X
dc.identifier.authororcidO'Mahony, Aoife
dc.identifier.authororcidMcHugh, Sheena§0000-0002-6595-0491
dc.identifier.authororcidShorter, Gillian W.
dc.identifier.authororcidBerry, Emma
dc.identifier.authororcidShields, Caoimhe
dc.identifier.authororcidSahar, Najam
dc.identifier.authororcidMoore, Anne C.§0000-0003-3656-4230
dc.identifier.authororcidSahm, Laura J.§0000-0002-7496-9477
dc.identifier.citationKandulu, C C, Fleming, A, O'Mahony, A, McHugh, S, Shorter, G W, Berry, E, Shields, C, Sahar, N, Moore, A C & Sahm, L J 2026, 'Barriers and facilitators to COVID-19 vaccination programme implementation in Ireland: a qualitative study of implementation stakeholders using CFIR', Vaccine, vol. 89, 128909, pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128909
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128909
dc.identifier.endpage18
dc.identifier.issn0264-410X
dc.identifier.journaltitleVaccine
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0003-3656-4230/work/220835609
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0001-5330-951X/work/220835787
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-7496-9477/work/220835813
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-6595-0491/work/220835868
dc.identifier.startpage1
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/19073
dc.identifier.volume89
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier Ltd
dc.rights© 2026, the Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.rights.accessrightsopen access
dc.rights.licensenameAttribution 4.0 International
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.statusPeer reviewed
dc.subjectCFIR
dc.subjectCOVID-19 vaccination
dc.subjectHealth systems
dc.subjectPandemic preparedness
dc.subjectStakeholder perspectives
dc.subjectVaccine implementation
dc.subject[Pharmacy]
dc.subject[PublicHealth]
dc.subject[BiochemistryCellBiology]
dc.titleBarriers and facilitators to COVID-19 vaccination programme implementation in Ireland: a qualitative study of implementation stakeholders using CFIRen
dc.typeArticle (peer-reviewed)
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