Why universities terminated organized vaccination? An analysis using the Smith model of poli-cy implementation process / 中国卫生政策研究

ABSTRACT

Objective:Using the Smith Model of policy implementation, the paper analyses how an adverse e-vent,the"Si-xian County Vaccine Incident",caused the termination of organized vaccination in universities L city. Methods:Case study, in-depth interviews among 15 key insiders, and 5 focus-group interviews among college students. All interviews transcribed,coded and analyzed. Results:There are no clear policy targets nor specific im-plementation standards for college students' vaccination. The target group (college students) holds a low level of awareness of vaccination. Implementation departments are sensitive to any risks due to the prevalent stability-oriented social environment,and have limited space for action when facing emergencies. Conclusion:In the stability-oriented social environment,the Si-xian County Vaccine Incident amplified the risks and limited the space of vaccination poli-cy implementation. In the absence of policy goals for college student vaccination,it was safer to terminate organized vaccination programs,which had a negative impact on university vaccination. The government should lay out specific policy goals for vaccination,and broaden the possible implementation space,as well as establish mechanisms for at-tenuating the risks of vaccination.