COVID-19 vaccine acceptability, and uptake among people living with HIV in Uganda

Abstract

Background Despite being a priority population for COVID-19 vaccination, limited data are available regarding acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Sub-Saharan Africa. We described COVID-19 vaccine acceptability and factors associated with vaccine acceptability among PLWH in Uganda. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted among PLWH, aged ≥18 years, enrolled participants who were seeking HIV care from six purposely selected accredited ART clinics in Kampala. We obtained data on vaccine acceptability defined as willingness to accept any of the available COVID-19 vaccines using interviewer-administered questionnaires. In addition, we assessed vaccination status, complacency regarding COVID-19 disease, vaccine confidence, and vaccine convenience. Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptability were evaluated using modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors. Results We enrolled 767 participants of whom 485 (63%) were women. The median age was 33 years [interquartile range (IQR) 28–40] for women and 40 years [IQR], (34–47) for men. Of the respondents 534 (69.6%,95% confidence interval [CI]: 66.3%-72.8%) reported receiving at least one vaccine dose, with women significantly more likely than men to have been vaccinated (73% vs. 63%; p = 0.003). Among the unvaccinated 169 (72.7%, 95% CI: 66.6%-78.0%) were willing to accept vaccination, had greater vaccine confidence (85.9% had strong belief that the vaccines were effective; 81.9% that they were beneficial and 71% safe for PLWH; 90.5% had trust in health care professionals or 77.4% top government officials), and believed that it would be easy to obtain a vaccine if one decided to be vaccinated (83.6%). Vaccine acceptability was positively associated with greater vaccine confidence (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 1.44; 95% CI: 1.08–1.90), and positive perception that it would be easy to obtain a vaccine (aPR 1.57; 95% CI: 1.26–1.96). Conclusion vaccine acceptance was high among this cohort of PLWH, and was positively associated with greater vaccine confidence, and perceived easiness (convince) to obtained the vaccine. Building vaccine confidence and making vaccines easily accessible should be a priority for vaccination programs targeting PLWH.

COVID-19 vaccine uptake and associated risk factors among first antenatal care attendees in Zambia, 2021-2022: a repeated cross-sectional study

“…These results suggest high levels of vaccine acceptability and accessibility among pregnant women living with HIV. 47 Our results are similar to those reported in Nigeria where one in five women living with and at risk of HIV had a lower likelihood of being vaccine-hesitant. 48…”

“…These results suggest high levels of vaccine acceptability and accessibility among pregnant women living with HIV. 47 Our results are similar to those reported in Nigeria where one in five women living with and at risk of HIV had a lower likelihood of being vaccinehesitant. 48 For this study, data collected over 13 months shows that there was a modest increase in vaccination uptake among study participants from 0.4% at the beginning of the study in September 2021 to 2.6% at the end of the study in September 2022.…”

Assessing Willingness to receive COVID-19 Vaccines, associated factors and reasons for hesitancy among persons aged 13-80 years in Central Uganda. A population-based surveillance Cohort

“…Conversely, this prevalence is slightly lower than a prevalence of 72.7% which was reported in Kampala Uganda by (21). Another study done in Ireland reported that 72% of their participants were willing to receive COVID-19 vaccine (22).…”

Investigating Attitudes, Motivations and Key Influencers for COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake among Late Adopters in Urban Zimbabwe

“…This group of individuals may be ideal for focused vaccination campaigns, as results from this study suggest that PLWH were more likely to perceive vaccines as safe and effective and trust government regulatory processes. A survey among PLWH in Uganda similarly found high levels of trust in government officials and significant willingness for COVID-19 vaccines [ 38 ]. This is likely because PLWH on chronic therapy interact with the public healthcare system often and have come to trust in and rely on the services.…”