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Njoga EO, Mshelbwala PP, Abah KO, Awoyomi OJ, Wangdi K, Pewan SB, Oyeleye FA, Galadima HB, Alhassan SA, Okoli CE, Kwaja EZ, Onwumere-Idolor OS, Atadiose EO, Awoyomi PO, Ibrahim MA, Lawan KM, Zailani SA, Salihu MD, Rupprecht CE. COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Determinants of Acceptance among Healthcare Workers, Academics and Tertiary Students in Nigeria. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10040626. [PMID: 35455375 PMCID: PMC9032510 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10040626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of human deaths, prompting the rapid development and regulatory approval of several vaccines. Although Nigeria implemented a COVID-19 vaccination program on 15 March 2021, low vaccine acceptance remains a major challenge. To provide insight on factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (VH), we conducted a national survey among healthcare workers, academics, and tertiary students, between 1 September 2021 and 31 December 2021. We fitted a logistic regression model to the data and examined factors associated with VH to support targeted health awareness campaigns to address public concerns and improve vaccination rates on par with global efforts. A total of 1525 respondents took part in the survey, composed of healthcare-workers (24.5%, 373/1525), academics (26.9%, 410/1525), and students (48.7%, 742/1525). Only 29% (446/1525) of the respondents were vaccinated at the time of this study. Of the 446 vaccinated respondents, 35.7% (159/446), 61.4% (274/446) and 2.9% (13/446) had one, two and three or more doses, respectively. Reasons for VH included: difficulty in the vaccination request/registration protocols (21.3%, 633/1079); bad feelings towards the vaccines due to negative social media reports/rumours (21.3%, 633/1079); personal ideology/religious beliefs against vaccination (16.7%, 495/1079); and poor confidence that preventive measures were enough to protect against COVID-19 (11%, 323/1079). Some health concerns that deterred unvaccinated respondents were: innate immunity issues (27.7%, 345/1079); allergic reaction concerns (24.6%, 307/1079); and blood clot problems in women (21.4%, 266/1079). In the multivariable model, location of respondents/geopolitical zones, level of education, testing for COVID-19, occupation/job description and religion were significantly associated with VH. Findings from this study underscore the need for targeted awareness creation to increase COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Nigeria and elsewhere. Besides professionals, similar studies are recommended in the general population to develop appropriate public health interventions to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel O. Njoga
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; (F.A.O.); (E.O.A.)
- Correspondence: (E.O.N); (P.P.M.); (K.O.A.)
| | - Philip P. Mshelbwala
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Australia
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja 900109, Nigeria
- Correspondence: (E.O.N); (P.P.M.); (K.O.A.)
| | - Kenneth O. Abah
- Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 55 Grunwaldzka St., 50-357 Wroclaw, Poland
- Correspondence: (E.O.N); (P.P.M.); (K.O.A.)
| | - Olajoju J. Awoyomi
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta PMB 2240, Nigeria;
| | - Kinley Wangdi
- Department of Global Health, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Acton Campus, Canberra 2601, Australia;
| | - Shedrach B. Pewan
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia;
| | - Felix A. Oyeleye
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; (F.A.O.); (E.O.A.)
| | - Haruna B. Galadima
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri PMB 1064, Nigeria;
| | - Salisu A. Alhassan
- Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Kano PMB 3978, Nigeria;
| | - Chinwe E. Okoli
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja 900109, Nigeria; (C.E.O.); (E.Z.K.)
| | - Elisha Z. Kwaja
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja 900109, Nigeria; (C.E.O.); (E.Z.K.)
| | - Onyinye S. Onwumere-Idolor
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro PMB 005, Delta State, Nigeria;
| | - Everest O. Atadiose
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; (F.A.O.); (E.O.A.)
| | - Priscilla O. Awoyomi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200005, Nigeria;
| | - Musawa A. Ibrahim
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto PMB 2346, Nigeria; (M.A.I.); (M.D.S.)
| | - Kabiru M. Lawan
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria PMB 1044, Nigeria;
| | - Shehu A. Zailani
- Department of Animal Health and Technology, Bauchi State College of Agriculture, Bauchi PMB 0088, Nigeria;
| | - Mohammed D. Salihu
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto PMB 2346, Nigeria; (M.A.I.); (M.D.S.)
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