COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Determinants of Acceptance among Healthcare Workers, Academics and Tertiary Students in Nigeria
Emmanuel O. Njoga,
Philip P. Mshelbwala,
Kenneth O. Abah,
Olajoju J. Awoyomi,
Kinley Wangdi,
Shedrach B. Pewan,
Felix A. Oyeleye,
Haruna B. Galadima,
Salisu A. Alhassan,
Chinwe E. Okoli,
Elisha Z. Kwaja,
Onyinye S. Onwumere-Idolor,
Everest O. Atadiose,
Priscilla O. Awoyomi,
Musawa A. Ibrahim,
Kabiru M. Lawan,
Shehu A. Zailani,
Mohammed D. Salihu,
Charles E. Rupprecht
Affiliations
Emmanuel O. Njoga
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria
Philip P. Mshelbwala
School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Australia
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
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
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
Elisha Z. Kwaja
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja 900109, Nigeria
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
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
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
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.
