Background Health experts agree that widespread use of safe and effective vaccines will rapidly contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The big question is whether these vaccines can easily be accepted by their end-users. Our study aimed at determining sociodemographic factors associated with acceptance of vaccines and clinical trials of COVID-19 in western Uganda. Method A simplified snowball sampling technique was used to select 1067 respondents of 18–70 years in western Uganda using an online questionnaire from July to September 2020. Vaccine acceptability and risk perception were assessed using odds ratio at 95% confidence interval in R software version 3.6.3. Results There were 1067 participants in the study. The majority were males (73.2%) and age group 31–40 years (32.6%). The acceptance rate for COVID-19 vaccination was (53.6%; 572/1067) with those aged 18–20 years, males, elites at tertiary level of education (degree or diploma), students, Muslims, married, non-salary earners and rural dwellers having better odds and likeliness to accept vaccination. Only 44.6% (476/1067) showed interest in clinical trials among which; males, primary school leavers, students, Christians, un-married, respondents who didn’t earn any salary and rural dwellers had better odds and likelihood to participate in clinical trials. Conclusion There was a low level of vaccine acceptance and clinical trial interest in western Uganda. Minority groups in the study i.e., Muslims, students, primary school leavers, un-married rural dwellers among others showed more interest in vaccination and clinical trials. We anticipated fears in the larger part of this community that health experts need to address through reassurance of the community that vaccines are tested and that they are safe and important if we are to rapidly contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The World Health Organization has placed a lot of attention on vulnerable communities of Africa due to their chronically weak health care systems. Recent findings from Uganda show that medical staff members have sufficient knowledge but poor attitudes toward coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness/practices of lecturers and students in the fight against COVID-19. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 103 lecturers and students both men and women of age group 18 to 69 years in western Uganda. Data were obtained through a pretested questionnaire availed online. Results: Knowledge on COVID-19 symptoms was highest in this order: fever > dry cough > difficulty breathing > fatigue > headache with no significant differences between lecturers and students. Knowledge of participants on transmission of COVID-19 was highest in the order of cough drops > contaminated surfaces > person-to-person contact > asymptomatic persons > airborne > zoonotic with no significant differences among lecturers and students. Lecturers and students were all willing to continue using personal protective equipment like masks, and personal practices such as covering the mouth while sneezing and coughing, no handshaking, and washing of hands with no significant differences in the responses. The positive attitudes that COVID-19 could kill, anyone can get COVID-19, and willing to abide by the set regulations against the pandemic showed personal concerns and desired efforts against COVID-19. Conclusion: The study identifies lecturers and students as potential stakeholders in the fight against community transmission of COVID-19.

Background: Many countries have drawn their attention on developing Corona virus disease 2019 vaccine however there is less emphasis on whether this vaccine could be accepted in most of these countries. This study aimed to investigate acceptance and risk perception of COVID-19 vaccine in Uganda. Method: A simplified snowball sampling technique was used to select 1067 respondents of 18-70 years in western Uganda using an online questionnaire from July to September 2020. Vaccine acceptability and risk perception was assessed using odds ratio at 95% confidence interval using R software version 3.6.3. Results: The acceptance rate for vaccination against COVID-19 was (53.6%; 572/1067) with participants in the reference age group 18-20 (OR: 1; 95%CI: NA); males (OR: 2.1; 95%CI: 1.56-2.71; P=0.000); tertiary level of education (OR: 2.8; 95%CI: 1.25-6.11; P=0.009); students (OR: 3.19; 95%CI: 1.98-5.15; P=0.000) and non-salary earners (OR: 2.29; 95%CI: 1.53-3.44; P=0.000) significantly more likely to accept the vaccine. Results also showed that (46.4%; 495/1067) of the respondents were un-likely to accept the vaccine. About (44.6%; 476/1067) of the respondents were likely to accept vaccine clinical trials with participants in the reference age group 18-20 (OR: 1; 95%CI: NA), students (OR: 2.37; 95%CI: 1.49-3.77; P=0.000), marrieds (OR: 1.3; 95%CI: 1.03-1.69; P=0.028), and non-salary (OR: 1.56; 95%CI: 1.05-2.30; P=0.029) significantly more likely to accept clinical trials. There were (46.7%; 500/1067) of the respondents who perceived the vaccine as being risky with males (OR: 3.13; 95%CI: 2.33-4.21; P=0.000); students (OR: 2.59; 95%CI: 1.63-4.13; P=0.000); Civil servants (OR: 1.49; 95%CI: 0.98-2.25; P=0.063); and non-salary earners; (OR: 2.34; 95%CI: 1.57-3.47; P=0.000) who significantly perceived the vaccine as being more risky.Conclusion: The level of vaccine acceptance (53.6%) and risk perception (46.7%) was relatively average in western Uganda. In order to ensure successful vaccination process, the government needs to prioritize vaccine acceptance strategies especially among the risky group in the community.

BackgroundSuccess of public health government programs depends on effective partnerships between religious institutions, policy makers and medical professionals. Directives from the World Health Organization (WHO) against social gatherings to control COVID-19 transmission have negatively impacted religious-political partnerships. Compliance of rural communities to national lockdowns requires support from community faith leaders. Across the African sub-continent faith plays an important role within communities that display diverse religious practice. Specific guidelines to prevent community transmission and spread of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) are however, scarce, complicating adherence to best practice as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). During the Ebola epidemic in Africa, faith groups played a crucial role in spreading information from the WHO to control community disease transmissions. MethodsHere we examined knowledge, attitudes and practices for COVID-19 among market vendors, of faith, in South-Western Uganda. A cross sectional study was undertaken among rural market vendors (n=248) in southwestern Uganda was undertaken using an online questionnaire.ResultsMost moslems (72%) and protestants (70%) were aware that COVID-19 could present symptomatically and the challenges for control of COVID-19 in Uganda. Definitive knowledge of COVID-19 transmission dynamics was most prevalent among individuals of Protestant faith (70%). Most moslems (66%) interviewed found it difficult to comply with public health measures (lockdowns and self-isolation) while most pentecostals (64%) considered wearing as face mask to be impractical. Such discrepancies within a tight knit community and religious groupings in relation to practice shows a need to strengthen and revise policy for the national implementation of COVID-19 guidelines. ConclusionEngagement from religious leaders to encourage their followers to abide to COVID-19 guidelines would facilitate Africa’s COVID-19 response to become more effective addressing key areas of non-compliance that undermine control e.g. a majority of Pentecostal Christians are hesitant to be associated with alcohol-based hand sanitizers.