COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance and Its Associated Factors: Insights from Rural and Urban Settlements in the Yilo Krobo Municipality in Ghana

Abstract

The introduction of COVID-19 vaccines is viewed by many as an important milestone in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and a critical step toward attaining the required threshold for head immunity. However, accepting a vaccine is key to a successful rollout of any vaccination programme. Using the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) framework on vaccine acceptance and hesitancy as an analytical framework, this study examines COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and its associated factors in rural and urban settlements in the Yilo Krobo Municipality in Ghana. Data for the study were drawn from a cross-sectional survey conducted in an urban and three rural settlements in the Yilo Krobo Municipality. The findings showed that about 97% of residents were aware of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout exercise in the country; however, only 46% were willing to take the vaccine. The results from the binary logistic regression show that the sex of respondents (p<0.01), safety considerations (p<0.001), level of information on the vaccine (p<0.05), and perceived risk concerns (p<0.01) were the key factors that significantly influenced vaccine acceptance in the municipality. The study recommends more public education and sensitization to reduce misconceptions and increase trust in the vaccine rollout exercise.