Vaccine Hesitancy, Public Perceptions and Intention to Vaccinate Against Covid-19

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to continue to impose enormous burdens of morbidity and mortality while severely disrupting societies and economies worldwide. Governments must be ready to ensure large-scale, equitable access and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine if and when a safe and effective one becomes available. This will require sufficient health system capacity, as well as strategies to enhance trust in and acceptance of the vaccine and those who deliver it.

In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization defined vaccine hesitancy as a ’delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite availability of vaccination services, which can vary in form and intensity based on when and where it occurs and what vaccine is involved, as has been confirmed in multiple studies. Concern about vaccine hesitancy is growing worldwide, in fact, WHO identified it as one of the top ten global health threats in 2019. In many countries, vaccine hesitancy and misinformation present substantial obstacles to achieving coverage and community immunity.

Governments, public health officials and advocacy groups must be prepared to address hesitancy and build vaccine literacy so that the public will accept vaccination when appropriate. Anti-vaccination activists are already campaigning in multiple countries against the need for a vaccine, with some denying the existence of COVID-19 altogether, Misinformation spread through multiple channels could have a considerable effect on the acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine. The accelerated pace of vaccine development has further heightened public anxieties and could compromise acceptance.

Aim and Objectives of the research:

• This study aimed to investigate acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine in Lagos.
• Public opinions and perceptions regarding a future COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria.
• This study attempts to understand coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy.

Study Location: this study will be conducted in various places across Lagos State and online plat forms.

Study Population: this study will focus on Healthy individuals, Students, Vulnerable people and risky group of individuals aged between 18-70 years using random sampling to select 1500 respondents. 

Method: A questionnaire containing demographic characteristics, and questions regarding to vaccine acceptance, willingness to participate in vaccination and perception regarding COVID-19 vaccine will be administered to the respondent using simple Random sampling, online questionnaire will also be administered to various platforms.

Recommendation: This study will present an early indication of public perceptions towards a future COVID-19 vaccine and represents a starting point for mapping vaccine perceptions.

• The research result can be used to raise awareness about the importance, efficiency and effectiveness of the Vaccine.
• Governments need to use this time to understand the community concerns and to identify the strategies that will support engagement.