Do we trust the government? Attributes of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and acceptance in Nigeria

Osmond C. Ekwebelem; Helen Onyeaka; Ismaeel Yunusa; Taghi Miri; Yahwedalu M. Onwuneme; Ayeni T. Eunice; Amara Anyogu; Bright Obi; Ngwogu Ada Carol; Osmond C. Ekwebelem; Helen Onyeaka; Ismaeel Yunusa; Taghi Miri; Yahwedalu M. Onwuneme; Ayeni T. Eunice; Amara Anyogu; Bright Obi; Ngwogu Ada Carol

doi:10.3934/medsci.2022010

AIMS Medical Science

2022, Volume 9, Issue 2: 268-282. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2022010

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Research article

Do we trust the government? Attributes of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and acceptance in Nigeria

1.
Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
2.
School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
3.
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
4.
Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa, Nigeria
5.
Department of Regulatory Affairs, Fensyl MHP Consulting Group, Lagos, Nigeria
6.
School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, UK
7.
Department of Medical Microbiology, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Nigeria

Received: 01 February 2022 Revised: 31 March 2022 Accepted: 07 April 2022 Published: 15 April 2022

Objectives
A significant percentage of the population must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Therefore the success of a vaccination program relies on the level of acceptance. This present study seeks to understand COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in Nigeria by assessing the public's willingness to get vaccinated.

Study design
This is a population-based cross-sectional study. Data were derived through a structured online survey.

Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult residents in Nigeria in March 2021 using a structured online questionnaire. The questionnaire surveyed participants' demographic characteristics and perception of COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics using Chi-square, as well as univariable logistic regression to determine the factors associated with acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine was conducted.

Results
Of the 618 respondents, 272 (44%) reported being willing to get vaccinated. Interestingly, of the 346 (56%) respondents that would not take the COVID-19 vaccine, the highest marginal reasons for non-acceptance were lack of trust in the government 163 (47.1%), followed by the belief that the vaccine is not safe 67 (19.4%), and no enough information about the vaccine 49 (13.6%). In addition, male respondents and those with a university degree or above were statistically significantly more likely to accept a COVID-19 vaccine.

Conclusion
A considerable proportion of the study population is unwilling to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This observation highlights the need for the government, public health officials, and advocacy groups to implement immediate awareness-raising measures to sway the public towards COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.
- vaccine acceptance,
- vaccine hesitancy,
- COVID-19,
- Nigeria,
- vaccine coverage
Citation: Osmond C. Ekwebelem, Helen Onyeaka, Ismaeel Yunusa, Taghi Miri, Yahwedalu M. Onwuneme, Ayeni T. Eunice, Amara Anyogu, Bright Obi, Ngwogu Ada Carol. Do we trust the government? Attributes of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and acceptance in Nigeria[J]. AIMS Medical Science, 2022, 9(2): 268-282. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2022010

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Abstract

Objectives

A significant percentage of the population must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Therefore the success of a vaccination program relies on the level of acceptance. This present study seeks to understand COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in Nigeria by assessing the public's willingness to get vaccinated.

Study design

This is a population-based cross-sectional study. Data were derived through a structured online survey.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult residents in Nigeria in March 2021 using a structured online questionnaire. The questionnaire surveyed participants' demographic characteristics and perception of COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics using Chi-square, as well as univariable logistic regression to determine the factors associated with acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine was conducted.

Results

Of the 618 respondents, 272 (44%) reported being willing to get vaccinated. Interestingly, of the 346 (56%) respondents that would not take the COVID-19 vaccine, the highest marginal reasons for non-acceptance were lack of trust in the government 163 (47.1%), followed by the belief that the vaccine is not safe 67 (19.4%), and no enough information about the vaccine 49 (13.6%). In addition, male respondents and those with a university degree or above were statistically significantly more likely to accept a COVID-19 vaccine.

Conclusion

A considerable proportion of the study population is unwilling to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This observation highlights the need for the government, public health officials, and advocacy groups to implement immediate awareness-raising measures to sway the public towards COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

Author contributions

Conceptualization: OCE, HO. Data curation: OCE. Formal analysis: OCE, HO, IY. Methodology: OCE, HO. Project administration: OCE, HO. Visualization: IY, YMO, ATE, BO. Writing—original draft: OCE, HO. Writing—review & editing: IY, YMO, ATE, BO, TM, AA and NAC.

Funding

No funding was received for research.

Conflicts of interests

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

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