Addressing challenges to rolling out COVID-19 vaccines in African countries

Nachega, Jean B.; Sam-Agudu, Nadia A.; Masekela, Refiloe; Zalm, Marieke M. van der; Nsanzimana, Sabin; Condo, Jeanine; Ntoumi, Francine; Rabie, Helena; Kruger, Mariana; Wiysonge, Charles Shey; Ditekemena, John; Chirimwami, Raphael B; Ntakwinja, Mukanire; Mukwege, Denis; Noormahomed, Emília Virginia; Paleker, Masudah; Mahomed, Hassan; Tamfum, Jean‐Jacques Muyembe; Zumla, Alimuddin; Suleman, Fátima

doi:10.1016/s2214-109x(21)00097-8

Cited by 99 publications

(112 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(1 reference statement)

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“…In sub-Saharan Africa, studies suggest that some of the reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy include negative perceptions of the pharmaceutical industries, concerns on vaccine safety and/or the source of the vaccine, lack of confidence in the government and vaccine costs [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Vaccine hesitancy is, however, context-specific and varies across time and place [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Level and Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence in Kenya

et al. 2021

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The government of Kenya has launched a phased rollout of COVID-19 vaccination. A major barrier is vaccine hesitancy; the refusal or delay of accepting vaccination. This study evaluated the level and determinants of vaccine hesitancy in Kenya. We conducted a cross-sectional study administered through a phone-based survey in February 2021 in four counties of Kenya. Multilevel logistic regression was used to identify individual perceived risks and influences, context-specific factors and vaccine-specific issues associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Kenya was high: 36.5%. Factors associated with vaccine hesitancy included: Rural regions, perceived difficulty in adhering to government regulations on COVID-19 prevention, no perceived COVID-19 infection risk, concerns regarding vaccine safety and effectiveness, and religious and cultural reasons. There is a need for the prioritization of interventions to address vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccine confidence as part of the vaccine roll-out plan. These messaging and/or interventions should be holistic to include the value of other public health measures, be focused and targeted to specific groups, raise awareness on the risks of COVID-19 and effectively communicate the benefits and risks of vaccines.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Level and Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence in Kenya

et al. 2021

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“…There has been a recent focus on challenges African countries will encounter during the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, including the lack of infrastructure needed to maintain cold chains, inadequate vaccine supplies, growing vaccine hesitancy and the lack of funding. 1 However, rather than focusing solely on challenges, we argue African countries should recognise and harness assets that could accelerate the vaccine roll-out and enhance the COVID-19 prevention package. 2 This view is based on our experience in Siaya, where we implemented an integrated intervention leveraging the community health strategy, youth and digital technology to maximise COVID-19 prevention and optimise the case management of patients with COVID-19 in communities and health facilities.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Leveraging latent assets to strengthen the COVID-19 response and vaccine roll-out in Africa

Kaseje¹,

Oruenjo

Kaseje

et al. 2021

BMJ Glob Health

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“…Uptake is the key component of success for any vaccination programme. Achieving herd immunity requires a threshold proportion of the population to have been vaccinated [ 4 , 5 ], to realise benefits at population level. This is estimated to be around 67% for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines [ 5 , 6 ].…”

Section: Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The WHO vaccine hesitancy model aggregates drivers of vaccine hesitancy into complacency, confidence and convenience factors [ 8 ]. In low-resource contexts such as those in sub-Saharan Africa, several factors have arisen driving the hesitancy and propagated by widespread dissemination across different social media [ 4 ]. Themes centred on vaccine fear, mistrust, religion, myths and misconceptions and conspiracy theories have emerged and are promoted by a huge gap in communication by responsible governments and public health authorities [ 5 ].…”

Section: Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

Vaccination hesitancy among women of reproductive age in resource-challenged settings: a cause for public health concern

Murewanhema¹

2021

Pan Afr Med J

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Women of reproductive age are a key population for the control of COVID-19 owing to their levels of socio-economic activities and central role in the upkeep of stable families. Therefore, adequate vaccination uptake in this population is critical. However, this may be negatively affected by circulating rumours regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and subfertility and pregnancy and breastfeeding concerns that have circulated widely on diverse social media. Urgent public health interventions are required to deal with vaccination hesitancy and promote uptake in this key population. This calls for concerted, multidisciplinary and multistakeholder consultative public health forums, public health research and action in the shortest possible period.

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Addressing challenges to rolling out COVID-19 vaccines in African countries

Cited by 99 publications

References 7 publications

Assessing the Level and Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence in Kenya

Assessing the Level and Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence in Kenya

Leveraging latent assets to strengthen the COVID-19 response and vaccine roll-out in Africa

Vaccination hesitancy among women of reproductive age in resource-challenged settings: a cause for public health concern

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