Factores asociados a la intención de vacunación contra el COVID-19 en Popayán, Cauca, Colombia

Vaccination against the COVID-19 pandemic, decreed by the WHO in 2020, has shown in the initial trials an admissible efficacy for the scientific community, but with many doubts and concerns for the communities, developing the phenomenon known as vaccine hesitancy.

Objective

To understand the factors associated with the intention or rejection of vaccination against COVID-19 in the city of Popayán in the year 2022.

Methodology

Cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study, carried out between August 2021 and March 2022; with a non-probabilistic sampling, for convenience, with a sample size of 993 people; A questionnaire-type survey was applied in person and virtually to know the intention of vaccination, knowledge and perceptions.

Results

The surveyed population was characterized as 56.19% female, 49.24% between 18 and 28 years old; 23.16% state that they do not intend to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the main reasons being: not being well informed 56.29%, ineffective vaccine 54.8% and that the vaccine weakens the immune system 27,5%; as well as the low confidence with the Vaccination Plan and with the pharmaceutical companies that produce the vaccine.

Conclusion

The intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 is determined not only by the technical-administrative dynamics of the immunization program and the health system, variables of the context and the perception of risk, add up to explain the vaccination processes.