{
  "abstract": "Background: People with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) face increased infection and mortality risks due to their disease and potentially immunosuppressive therapy. Comprehensive vaccination is recommended, but reported vaccination rates in pwMS vary, and concerns about safety und effectiveness are discussed as one possible reason.\n\nObjectives: This study examines the vaccination rates and hesitancy in pwMS from the perspectives of patients, neurologists, and general practitioners (GPs) to identify possible approaches to overcome the hesitation.\n\nMethods: Between March and December 2023 narrative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen patients, five neurologists, and ten GPs in Germany. Pseudonymized data were analyzed using Kuckartz’s Qualitative Content Analysis with MAXQDA, incorporating deductive and inductive codes.\n\nResults: In total, thirty participants were interviewed. Our findings suggest that some pwMS experience gaps in vaccination-related information and desire more proactive information from physicians. Several participants described that communication between neurologists and GPs was limited and that it was not always clear which physician addresses vaccination counselling and administration. Fear of side effects and misinformation encountered by patients affect vaccination willingness. Patients prefer precise and consistent information materials on vaccination timelines.\n\nConclusion: Misinformation or lack of information may contribute to vaccination reluctance. Addressing patients’ concerns with comprehensible information appears to be an important element of vaccination counselling from the perspective of the participants. Our findings highlight the importance of improved communication and education among all parties involved in vaccination.\n\nTrial registration: German Register of Clinical Studies (DRKS): https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00031559 (Registration Date: 28.08.2023, retrospectively registered).\n\nSupplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-026-05590-1.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Medical Faculty, Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine (AM RUB), Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, 44801 Germany",
    "Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany",
    "Department of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany",
    "Department of Neurology and Stroke Unit, Klinikum Lippstadt, Lippstadt, Germany",
    "Department of Geriatric Medicine, Marien Hospital Herne, Ruhr University Bochum, Herne, Germany",
    "Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Ruhr University Bochum, Herne, Germany",
    "Department of Internal Medicine IV (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany",
    "Department Medicine and Health Services Research, BARMER Institute for Health System Research, Wuppertal, Germany",
    "Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Diversity Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 21,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Anastasia Suslow",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2198-0311"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Romy Lauer",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0404-6095"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Thomas Grüter",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8927-9818"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Kerstin Hellwig",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4467-9011"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Chantal Flemm",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3771-1394"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Nina Timmesfeld",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5175-4326"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jale Basten",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3874-7439"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Robin Denz",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2682-5268"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Marianne Tokic"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Katharina Meiszl",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3402-592X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Theresa Oganowski"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Uta Kiltz",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5668-4497"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Maria Zacharopoulou"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Andreas Stallmach",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6101-5244"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Anika Franz"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Ursula Marschall"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Joachim Saam"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Catharina Tiemann"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Kathrin J. Grochau",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6194-2761"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Horst Christian Vollmar",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0117-7188"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Ina Carola Otte",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0280-0899"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5e8xamtznpyry.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1186/s12883-026-05590-1",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13733131/",
  "id": "5e8xamtznpyry",
  "issns": [
    "1471-2377"
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  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-026-05590-1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3306|Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy"
    ]
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  "openalex": "W7225197379",
  "pdf_url": "https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12883-026-05590-1.pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13733131",
  "pmid": "42977901",
  "published": "2026-11-03",
  "publisher": "BMC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5e8xamtznpyry.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-08T12:22:59Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13733131",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-026-05590-1"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:F27",
      "subfield": "general"
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  ],
  "title": "Attitudes towards vaccination in multiple sclerosis: insights from patients, neurologists, and general practitioners within a qualitative study",
  "title_text": "Attitudes towards vaccination in multiple sclerosis: insights from patients, neurologists, and general practitioners within a qualitative study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-08T12:22:59Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5e8xamtznpyry",
  "venue": "BMC Neurology",
  "versions": []
}