Background COVID-19 was characterized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic in 2020. Papua New Guinea (PNG) has remained on high alert ever since, and its National Control Centre continues to coordinate national preparedness and response measures, guided by its Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19. As part of the WHO and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization's COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) program, PNG received several shipments of COVID-19 vaccine doses. A nationwide vaccine rollout for COVID-19 was initiated in PNG in May 2021. Despite the availability of vaccines and the capacity of health systems to vaccinate frontline workers and community members, including high-risk groups, there are still critical issues related to vaccine safety, confidence, and acceptance to ensure the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Evidence from studies on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and demand in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) suggests that sociocultural characteristics of the community and the behaviors of different vaccine stakeholders, including vaccine recipients, vaccine providers, and policymakers, determine the effectiveness of vaccination interventions or strategies. Objective This study will examine sociocultural determinants of anticipated acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in urban and rural areas of different regions in PNG and health care providers’ views on vaccine acceptance. Methods The study design uses a mixed methods approach in PNG’s coastal and highlands regions. The first research activity will use a qualitative methodology with an epistemological foundation based on constructivism. This design elicits and listens to community members’ accounts of ways culture is a rich resource that provides meaning to the COVID-19 pandemic; the design also measures adherence to niupela pasin (“new normal” in Tok Pidgin) and vaccination acceptance. The second activity will be a cross-sectional survey to assess the distribution of features of vaccine acceptance, priorities, and practices. The third activity will be in-depth interviews of health care providers actively involved in either COVID-19 clinical management or public health–related pandemic control activities. Results The project proposal has been reviewed and approved by the Medical Research Advisory Committee of Papua New Guinea. Qualitative data collection started in December 2022, and the survey will begin in May 2023. The findings will be disseminated to the participating communities later this year, followed by publication. Conclusions The proposed research on community views and experiences concerning sociocultural and behavioral features of acceptance of the vaccine will provide a better understanding of communication and education needs for vaccine action for COVID-19 control in PNG and other LMICs. The research also considers the influence of health care providers’ and policy makers’ roles in the awareness and use of the COVID-19 vaccine. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/44664
UNSTRUCTURED Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was characterised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a pandemic in 2020. Papua New Guinea (PNG) has remained on high alert ever since its National Control Centre continues to coordinate national preparedness and response measures guided by its Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19. As part of the WHO, Gavi and other global partners' COVAX program, PNG received several COVID-19 vaccine doses. A national-wide vaccine roll-out for COVID-19 was initiated in PNG in May 2021. Despite the availability of vaccines and the capacity of health systems to vaccinate frontline workers and community members, including high-risk groups, questions on vaccine safety, confidence, and acceptance remain critical for the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Evidence from studies on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and demand in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) suggests that sociocultural factors of the community and behaviours of different vaccine stakeholders, including vaccine recipients, vaccine providers and policymakers, determine the effectiveness of vaccination interventions or strategies. Methods: The study design includes a mixed methods approach to implement in PNG's coastal and highlands regions. The first research activity will use a qualitative methodology in which the epistemological foundation is based on constructivism. This design elicits and listens to community members' accounts of ways culture as a rich source provides meaning to the COVID-19 pandemic, adherence to 'niupela pasin' (New normal) and vaccination acceptance. The second activity will be a cross-sectional survey to assess the distribution of features of vaccine acceptance, priorities and practices. The third activity will be in-depth interviews of healthcare providers actively involved in either COVID-19 clinical management or public health-related pandemic control activities. Discussion: Proposed research on community views and experience concerning sociocultural and behavioural features of anticipated acceptance of the vaccine will provide a better understanding of communication and education needs for vaccine action for COVID-19 control in PNG and other LMICs. The research also considers the influence of healthcare providers' and policymakers' roles in the awareness and use of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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