Aim: This study aimed at assessing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, adverse events after immunization, and associated factors among the general population during the early phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program in Ethiopia. Subjects and Methods: We conducted a national online survey among 853 Ethiopian general population between June 19 and July 31, 2021, in three languages that included Amharic, Afan Oromo and English. Responses obtained from Google Forms were downloaded in excel formats, filtered, coded, exported, and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26. Binary logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with the outcome variables and p<0.05 was used as the cut-off point to declare the significance of the association. This study was approved by the Ethical Review Committee of the School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University (ERB/290/13/2021). Results: Of the 853 study participants, the majority of the participants were male (57.4%) and their mean (±SD)age was 32.0 (±13.57) years. More than half (61.0% (95% CI; 57.1%-64.8) of the participants were hesitant to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Fear of side effects (21.3%) and doubt about its effectiveness (16.9%) were their main reasons for not receiving the vaccine. Of the 214 participants, who received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, 34.6% showed hesitation to take the second dose. The overall mean score (±SD) of the attitude of the participants toward COVID-19 and its vaccine was 31.21(±3.21) from an overall score of 45 and 53.6% scored below the mean (had a poor attitude) toward COVID-19. Of the 145 (67.8%) participants that experienced adverse events following immunization (AEFI) with the COVID-19 vaccine, the most common were pain at the injection site (52.4%), headache (40.7%), and fatigue (35.2%). The odds of vaccine hesitancy were reduced by 57% and 93% among participants with good attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine (AOR: 0.43, 95% CI: (0.29-0.65) and who recommended the vaccine to other people (AOR: 0.07, 95% CI: (0.04-0.12), respectively. The odds of COVID-19 vaccine side effects were reduced by 57% and 69% among participants in the age group of 30-39 years (AOR: 0.43, 95% CI: (0.19-0.98) and 40-49 years (AOR: 0.31, 95% CI: (0.12-0.86), respectively when compared to those in the age group of 18-29 years. Conclusion: Hesitancy to first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine was high among the general population in Ethiopia. Fear of adverse effects and doubt about its effectiveness were the most frequent reasons for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. More than half of the participants had a poor attitude toward COVID-19 and its vaccine. More than two third of vaccinated participants experienced one or more AEFI COVID-19 vaccine administrations.

Pupose To explore the challenges of anticoagulation management (AMS) and assess the need for establishing a pharmacist-led anticoagulation clinic (PLAC) at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods We conducted a qualitative study at TASH. Using a semistructured interview guide, we interviewed 15 physicians from different specialties, heads of pharmacy and laboratory departments. We also included 20 patients to explore their general perceptions, and experiences with and challenges of AMS; and the need to implement PLAC in the hospital. Results Only three physicians responded that they had protocols for initiating and maintaining warfarin dosing. Having protocols for venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment, VTE prophylaxis and treatment, bleeding risk assessment, and contraindication to anticoagulant therapy were reported by seven, six, four, and three participants, respectively. Lack of trained healthcare professionals and a separate AMS clinic, inconsistency in INR testing and anticoagulant availability, and longer appointment times were the biggest challenges of the existing AMS, according to 80% of respondents. Fourteen patient respondents indicated that their satisfaction with the AMS was affected by long wait times and inconsistent availability of anticoagulants and INR testing. The head of the laboratory stated that the facilities for INR testing are inadequate and affect the quality of AMS and customer satisfaction, and supplemented by the head of the pharmacy by adding irregularities of supplies and inadequate counseling on anticoagulants. Respondents suggested that there is a need to establish a PLAC with well-adopted standard operating procedures, qualified manpower, adequate training of assigned staff, and sustained supply of anticoagulants and INR testing. Conclusion The hospital’s AMS is not optimal to provide adequate services during the study period. Based on these findings and recommendations, the supporting literature, and the experiences of other facilities, the PLAC was established in TASH.

Aim: This study aimed at assessing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, adverse events after immunization, and associated factors among the general population during the early phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program in Ethiopia.Subjects and Methods: We conducted a national online survey among 853 Ethiopian general population between June 19 and July 31, 2021, in three languages that included Amharic, Afan Oromo and English.Responses obtained from Google Forms were downloaded in excel formats, ltered, coded, exported, and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26. Binary logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with the outcome variables and p<0.05 was used as the cut-off point to declare the signi cance of the association. This study was approved by the Ethical Review