COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Three Latin American Countries: Reasons Given for Not Becoming Vaccinated in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela

Abstract

Although vaccines have been developed to prevent COVID-19, vaccine hesitancy is a significant barrier for vaccination programs. Most research on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has blamed misinformation and misstated concerns about effectiveness, safety, and side effects of these vaccines. The preponderance of these studies has been performed in the Global North. Although Latin American has been substantially and negatively impacted by COVID-19, few studies have examined COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy there. We explored reasons volunteered for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy from a sample of 1,173 Colombians, Ecuadorians, and Venezuelans. Overall, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in these three countries is higher than desirable, but most people who are COVID-19 vaccine hesitant offered one reason or fewer. The reasons offered are diverse, including myths and exaggerations, but also individual-level contraindications for vaccination and structural barriers. Because of the diversity of reasons, single-issue mass campaigns are unlikely to bring about large shifts in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Our data suggest that interpersonal communication, particularly in Ecuador, and addressing structural concerns, particularly in Venezuela, are likely to have the greatest impact on vaccine uptake.

Consumption of Herbal Supplements or Homeopathic Remedies to Prevent COVID-19 and Intention of Vaccination for COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean

“…However, a significant proportion of the world population is reluctant to use the vaccine due to information and misinformation prevalent worldwide regarding vaccines. The reasons for rejection are fear of adverse effects, beliefs, medical mistrust, and structural barriers [8][9][10]. Some studies have estimated that acceptance of the vaccine against COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic varied from 27.7% to 93.3% in the world [11][12][13].…”

Assessment of the knowledge of The Risk Perceptions Attitude About the Vaccination Against Covid-19and communication practices of vaccinate about Covid-19 among Children's Saudi population

“…COVID-19 vaccines protect against the SARS-CoV-2 virus only, so it's still important to keep yourself healthy and well [24]. This is corroborated with [22] who recommended health education interventions to the vulnerable population at risk of contracting COVID-19 to have better knowledge and practices. awareness attitude participants had weak about Vaccinate against COVID-19 , like other studies [30].…”

“…This conclusion was achieved after a noticeable reduction in the global immunization rates for the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines, which fell to 85% compared to the required immunization target (95%), resulting in several measles outbreaks around the globe [20]. Anti-vaccination activists against COVID-19 vaccines have mediated the spread of misinformation through multiple channels which may have had a substantial impact on vaccine acceptance [21,22]. Governments and public health sectors must be prepared to address hesitancy and build confidence in vaccination, so immunization would be accepted when implementation is needed.…”

Identifying the determinants of non-injection of covid-19 vaccine: A qualitative study in Urmia, Iran

“…There are lots of reason to reject, delay, hesitancy and refusal of COVID-19 vaccine: Fear of short or long term applications to health, not considering being in a risk group, pregnancy, risk pregnancy, recent abortion, breastfeeding period ( 25 ), misinformation beliefs ( 26 , 27 ), not having enough vaccine-related information ( 26 – 28 ), concerns over vaccine safety ( 18 , 19 , 26 , 28 , 29 ), structural barriers ( 28 , 30 ), personal experience with the disease ( 31 , 32 ), possible unknown future adverse effects of the vaccine ( 32 , 33 ), social determinants of health ( 23 ), low health literacy ( 23 , 34 ), not trusting the drug companies ( 23 , 27 , 29 ), political ideologies ( 11 , 23 , 35 ), distrust of science and the government ( 19 , 26 , 29 , 33 ). Also, various social media made people hesitate to inject the vaccine by spreading false rumors about the COVID-19 vaccine harms, which could create a major challenge for the health system ( 36 , 37 ).…”