Assessment of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Zimbabweans: A rapid national survey

Abstract

Background: To minimize the devastating effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic, scientists hastily developed a vaccine. However, the scaling up of the vaccination is likely to be hindered by the widespread social media misinformation. We, therefore, conducted a study to assess the COVID 19 vaccine hesitancy among Zimbabweans. Methods: We conducted a descriptive online cross-sectional survey using a self administered questionnaire among adults. The questionnaire assessed willingness to be vaccinated; sociodemographic characteristics, individual attitudes and perceptions, effectiveness, and safety of the vaccine. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilized to examine the independent factors associated with vaccine uptake. Results: We analyzed data for 1168 participants, the age range of 19 to 89 years with the majority being females (57.5%). Half (49.9%) of the participants reported that they would accept the COVID 19 vaccine. The majority were uncertain about the effectiveness of the vaccine (76.0%) and its safety (55.0%). About half lacked trust in the government s ability to ensure the availability of an effective vaccine and 61.0% mentioned that they would seek advice from a healthcare worker to vaccinate. Age 55 years and above [vs 18 to 25 years Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.04, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.07 to 3.87], chronic disease [vs no chronic disease AOR: 1.72, 95%CI: 1.32 to 2.25], males [vs females AOR: 1.84, 95%CI: 1.44 to 2.36] and being a healthcare worker [vs not being a health worker AOR: 1.73, 95%CI: 1.34 to 2.24] were associated with increased likelihood to vaccinate. History of COVID 19 infection [vs no history - AOR: 0.45, 95%CI: 0.25 to 0.81) and rural residence [vs urban - AOR: 0.64, 95%CI: 0.40 to 1.01] were associated with reduced likelihood to vaccinate. Conclusion: We found half of the participants willing to vaccinate against COVID-19. The majority lacked trust in the government and were uncertain about vaccine effectiveness and safety. The policymakers should consider targeting geographical and demographic groups which were unlikely to vaccinate with vaccine information, education, and communication to improve uptake.

A Global Map of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Rates per Country: An Updated Concise Narrative Review

“…The results of an online survey study were reported in a recent preprint, and this survey was conducted in February 2021 among 1168 participants who showed an acceptance rate for COVID-19 vaccination of 49.9%. 39…”

The Landscape of COVID-19 Vaccination in Zimbabwe: A Narrative Review and Analysis of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of the Programme

“…The government has publicized its intentions to start vaccinating Zimbabwe's teenagers over the age of 16 against COVID-19 in November 2021 [19]. Through their political campaigns in various parts of Zimbabwe, politicians have been trying to encourage hesitant people to get inoculated against COVID-19 amid pervasive misinformation [20]. Several organisations in Zimbabwe, including parastatals, commercial companies and public health affiliates, have embarked on an operation to encourage their members to get vaccinated amid diffidence triggered by anti-vaccination posts on social media and other platforms [17].…”

“…Circulating theories, mythologies, fictions and misunderstandings about the roots of COVID-19 and the intentions of vaccination continue to be big drivers of vaccine indecision and substantial obstacles to vaccine uptake in the general population [20]. Zimbabwe has vaccines from China, Russia and India but not from Western nations.…”

COVID-19 Response in Zimbabwe: The Need for a Paradigm Shift?

“…Zimbabwe was among the first African countries to implement COVID-19 vaccination, with the first vaccine administered on 18 February 2021 [29]. However, the initial uptake was slow among the targeted population of HCW, with studies reporting a lack of government trust and uncertainty in vaccine effectiveness and safety as the reasons [30,31]. The Zimbabwean government to date has approved five SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, namely the Sinovac, Sinopharm, Covaxin, Sputnik V, and Janssen, for the vaccination of the Zimbabwean population.…”