COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Health Workers in Surgical Departments in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 is a communicable respiratory tract disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus that causes disease in humans. Its status rose to that of a pandemic leading to many fatalities all over the world. Due to its devastation, COVID-19 vaccine production was fast tracked and granted emergency use authorisation. This process has evoked worldwide fears about its safety in the mind of the public, leading to vaccine uptake hesitancy even among healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to ascertain COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among health workers in surgical departments of public tertiary healthcare facilities in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among healthcare workers in public tertiary healthcare facilities. A total sample was aimed at administering questionnaires, and data was collated and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Results: Two hundred and ninety-three (97.0%) respondents were aware of COVID-19 vaccination of health workers and others in Port Harcourt, and only 161 (53.3%) claimed to have taken the vaccine. To improve COVID-19 vaccination uptake rate, 133 (44.0%) respondents suggested that the government should improve citizens’ trust in them by being transparent and using traditional and religious leaders for public enlightenment (23 = 7.6%), etc. Conclusion: There is significant COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among workers in the surgical departments of the public tertiary hospitals in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Lack of trust between the government and the citizens is a hindrance against COVID-19 vaccination.