Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among adults in Nigeria

Abstract

Background Emerging variants of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has claimed over 3000 lives in Nigeria and vaccination remains a means of reducing the death toll. Despite ongoing efforts by the government to ensure COVID-19 vaccination of most residents to attain herd immunity, myths and beliefs have adversely shaped the perception of most Nigerians, challenging the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine. This study aimed to assess the factors influencing the awareness, perception, and willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccine among Nigerian adults. Methods A cross-sectional online nationwide study was conducted from April to June 2021 among Nigerian adult population using the snowballing method. Descriptive analysis was used to summarise the data. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to identify the predictors of COVID-19 uptake among the respondents. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. Results A total of 1058 completed forms were analysed and 63.9% were females. The mean age was 40.8 years±12.2 years. Most of the respondents (740; 69.5%) had satisfactory awareness of the vaccination exercise. The media was the main source of information. Health workers reported higher level of awareness (aOR = 1.822, 95% CI: 1.388–2.524, p<0.001). Respondents that are Christians and Muslims had better awareness compared to the unaffiliated (aOR = 6.398, 95% CI: 1.918–21.338, P = 0.003) and (aOR = 7.595, 95% CI: 2.280–25.301, p<0.001) respectively. There is average score for perception statements (566; 53.2%) towards COVID-19 vaccination. Close to half of the respondents (44.2%) found the short period of COVID-19 production worrisome. Majority of the respondents were willing to get the vaccine (856; 80.9%). Those without a prior diagnosis of COVID-19 had a lower willingness to get vaccinated (aOR = 0.210 (95% CI: 0.082–0.536) P = 0.001). Conclusion The study revealed a high level of awareness, willingness to receive the vaccine and moderate perception towards the vaccination activities. Influencing factors that significantly affects awareness were religion, occupation, education and prior diagnosis of COVID-19; for perception and willingness—occupation, and prior diagnosis of the COVID-19 were influencing factors.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in South Africa: Lessons for Future Pandemics

“…The main reason for not having had a COVID-19 vaccine, or for being unsure of whether to have a vaccine, was related to concerns about possible side effects of the vaccine. This finding is in line with international [ 35 ], regional African [ 36 ] and local South African [ 17 , 23 ] studies conducted since the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine programmes. Even while COVID-19 vaccines were still under development, fear of possible side effects was cited as a key reason for not having a vaccine once it became available [ 13 , 14 , 37 ], indicating that risk perception is a major barrier to uptake of COVID-19 vaccination.…”

“Intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers: a comparison between two surveys”

“…This may be due to the fear of getting the disease again and thus more intention to vaccine uptake. Our finding was in line with the findings of a study conducted among adults in Nigeria, which showed that individuals without prior diagnosis of COVID-19 had less perception to receive COVID-19 vaccine (adjusted OR = 0.59 (95% CI: 0.38-0.92), P = 0.021) than those that were previously COVID-19 positive [39].…”

What message appeal and messenger are most persuasive for COVID-19 vaccine uptake: Results from a 5-country survey in India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ukraine

“…Nigerian participants were more likely to prefer appeals related to social norms with both healthcare provider and peer messengers. This demonstrates that social norms may be powerful influences for improving vaccine uptake in Nigeria, suggesting that identifying individuals that are perceived as peers, rather than hierarchical, may be useful for vaccine promotion [ 33 ].…”