article · Pan African Medical Journal
A study investigated the perception of Nigerian social media users regarding a hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine. Conducted in August 2020, a cross-sectional online survey gathered responses from 517 individuals. The findings showed that 74.5% of respondents intended to take the vaccine when available. Among those unwilling to take it, the main reasons cited were concerns about the reliability of clinical trials (37.1%) and the belief that their immune system was sufficient (27.3%). The study also identified a significant association between vaccine acceptance and both the age and geographical location of respondents. The conclusion highlighted that most respondents were willing to accept the vaccine, emphasising the need for public reassurance about vaccine benefits and safety, and for national health authorities to engage all communities to build trust.
Understanding public perception of vaccines is crucial for effective public health campaigns. This study provides insights into factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among Nigerian social media users, which can inform strategies to build trust and encourage uptake, ultimately contributing to better public health outcomes.
The abstract does not indicate a direct application pathway for a commercial product or service. This research provides valuable insights for public health organisations and policymakers to develop targeted communication strategies and community engagement programmes to address vaccine hesitancy and promote uptake. It is early-stage research informing public health policy and practice.
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INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health threat facing mankind. There is no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19, and many vaccine candidates are currently under clinical trials. This study aimed to understand the perception of social media users regarding a hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. METHODS: we conducted a cross-sectional survey among social media users in Nigeria in August 2020 using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire includes sections on the demographic characteristics of the respondents and their perception regarding a hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 517 respondents completed and returned the informed consent along with the questionnaire electronically. Data were coded and abstracted into Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and loaded into the STATA 14 software for final analysis. RESULTS: the results showed that more than half of the respondents were male 294 (56.9%). Most of the respondents 385 (74.5%) intend to take the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. Among the 132 respondents that would not take the COVID-19 vaccine, the major reason for non-acceptance was unreliability of the clinical trials 49 (37.1%), followed by the belief that their immune system is sufficient to combat the virus 36 (27.3%). We found a significant association between the age of the respondents and the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance (P-value=0.00) as well as geographical location and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance (P-value=0.02). CONCLUSION: it was observed that most of the respondents were willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Our findings also reiterate the need to reassure the public the benefits an effective and safe COVID-19 vaccine can reap for public health. There is a need for national health authorities in Nigeria to ensure public trust is earned and all communities, including the marginalized populations, are properly engaged to ensure an optimal COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.
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DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2021.38.230.27325
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