COVID-19 experiences and vaccine confidence among health workers and non-health workers

Abstract

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus has been associated with unprecedented morbidity and mortality globally. This has resulted in the development of prevention protocols aimed at controlling the viral pandemic. Vaccine development and vaccination were also initiated to achieve herd immunity against the virus. High vaccine confidence levels are required to mitigate vaccine hesitancy and increase the uptake of the COVID vaccines and successful control of the pandemic. Aim: The researchers in this study set out to investigate COVID-19 experiences and public confidence in COVID-19 vaccination. Materials and Methods: A survey using both online and hard copy validated questionnaires was carried out among 431 consenting research participants in 6 countries across 3 continents (Africa, North America, and Europe). Results were analysed using SPSS version 23. Results: Fifty (11.6%) of the participants had COVID-like symptoms in the last one year though only one-fifth (10, 20%) of these were tested. Hydroxychloroquine was taken by 72 (16.7%) in the past 12 months. Two hundred and sixty-five (65.5%) expressed willingness to take the COVID vaccine. Recommendations by health workers and departments were significantly associated with vaccine confidence and uptake. More than half (249, 57.8%) of the participants acknowledged the presence of rumors against the vaccine. Suggestions to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence include: vaccines should be available in all testing centres; government should address other welfare issues first before vaccination and increased efforts toward confidence-building on the vaccine. Conclusion: Majority of the study participants were positively disposed to accepting the COVID-19 vaccine however the presence of rumors concerning the vaccine still poses a significant threat to COVID-vaccine confidence.