Acceptance Rates and Beliefs toward COVID-19 Vaccination among the General Population of Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Developing countries like Pakistan have previously suffered from barriers to acceptance of vaccination by the public because of financial and belief barriers. This study aims to explore these beliefs and highlight concerns regarding vaccine hesitancy in the general population of Pakistan since they are a hindrance to an effective coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) immunization in the country. A cross-sectional study was performed involving 1,778 participants from all four provinces of Pakistan. Results from the study showed more than half of the participants to be unsure of the safety (50%) and efficacy (51%) of the vaccine, whereas 42% were concerned about the side effects of the vaccine. About 72% of the respondents planned to get vaccinated, whereas 28% refused to do so. Internationally made imported vaccines were more trusted by the participants. Forty-four percent of the participants agreed to receive the vaccine upon recommendation from a physician. Lastly, participants who believed in the efficacy of the polio vaccination also considered the COVID-19 vaccine to be safe and effective.

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“…An online survey study conducted during January-February 2021, with 1778 participants showed an overall COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate of 72%. 75 An earlier online study conducted during September-October 2020 with 883 respondents showed a similar acceptance rate of 70.8% for COVID-19 vaccination. 76 The acceptance rates were also close to those in the study by Solís Arce et al that used phone interviews in a sub-national sample (76.1% during July-September 2020, that declined to 66.5% during September-October 2020).…”

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“…During the initial vaccination campaigns, varying degrees of vaccine hesitancy were reported across the globe given the diverse social and behavioral influences ( 18 ). Fear of the side effects, preconceived notions about the vaccine's ineffectiveness and belief in natural immunity were some of the leading causes of unwillingness to receive initial doses of the COVID- 19 vaccine ( 19 , 20 ). According to a cross-sectional study conducted in China ( 15 ), concerns regarding vaccine safety appeared to be a significant barrier to vaccination uptake, whereas, in Poland, side effects due to previous doses were a leading cause of hesitancy for boosters ( 21 ).…”

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“…Lastly, arranging broadcast sessions with medical professionals can help by spreading awareness regarding the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines and demonstrating the minimal side effects that they may cause. The importance of this action is proved by a cross-sectional study performed in Pakistan which showed that 44% of their participants agreed to get vaccinated for COVID-19 if recommended by a physician [ 28 ].…”