COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors in Malaysia

Abstract

The success of the COVID-19 vaccination programme to achieve herd immunity depends on the proportion of the population inoculated. COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy is a barrier to reaching a sufficient number of people to achieve herd immunity. This study aims to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and to identify the reasons contributing to vaccine hesitancy using the Theory of Planned Behavior. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between May 2021 to June 2021. Using exponential non-discriminative snowball sampling, participants were recruited via social media and telecommunication platforms. We used a questionnaire that obtained information on participant socio-demographics, vaccine hesitancy, pseudoscientific practices, conspiracy beliefs, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, main reasons for not intending to get the COVID-19 vaccine; influential leaders, gatekeepers and anti-or pro-vaccination lobbies; and global vaccine hesitancy. A total of 354 responses (mean age = 32.5 years old ±13.6; 70.3% females) were included for analysis. The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was 11.6%. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was significantly and positively associated with those who agreed with influential leaders, gatekeepers, and anti- or pro-vaccination lobbies (adjusted B coefficient = 1.355, p = 0.014), having a “wait and see” attitude to see if the COVID-19 vaccine is safe (adjusted B coefficient = 0. 822, p <0.001), perceiving that the vaccine will give them COVID-19 (adjusted B coefficient = 0.660, p <0.002), planned to use masks/others precautions instead (adjusted B coefficient = 0.345, p = 0.038) and having higher scores in conspiracy beliefs (adjusted B coefficient = 0.128, p <0.001). Concern about the costs associated with the vaccine (adjusted B coefficient = -0.518, p <0.001), subjective norms (adjusted B coefficient = -0.341, p <0.001), and perceived behavioural control (adjusted B coefficient = -0.202, p = 0.004) were negatively associated with vaccine hesitancy. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Malaysia is low. Several factors were identified as being associated with vaccine hesitancy. Factors associated with vaccine hesitancy would be useful in tailoring specific interventions involving positive messages by influential leaders, which address vaccine misinformation and the wait-and-see attitude which may delay the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines.

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

“…Besides our findings also revealed that vaccines were not liked and that these vaccines could infect them with the Corona virus. We found similar findings from Malaysia, as a study conducted by Kai Wei Lee et al among students (11). Furthermore, our findings indicated that some people were hesitant because they had not COVID 19 in the past 6 months, /pregnant, /breast feeding and therefore ineligible for vaccine uptake.…”

“…There are different reasons for why some people hesitate or refuse to receive COVID-19 vaccine as described elsewhere and these include; fear of side effects, vaccines not being effective, don't like vaccines, COVID-19 is not a serious illness, Concern about the costs associated with the vaccine (such as office visit costs or vaccine administration fees), distrust in vaccines (10,11) adults (12). However, many of these studies have been conducted in high income countries and among students for example Spain, Malaysia with limited urban population-based studies in Sub-Saharan Africa more especially Uganda (Wakiso) among persons aged 13-80 years.…”

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Uptake in Bangkok, Thailand: Cross-sectional Online Survey

“…In many regions, this led to distrust of scientific evidence and interventions, and eroded the relationship among people, politicians, and public health officials [26]. We showed that, in contrast to the antiscience and antivaccine sentiment identified elsewhere [27], most unvaccinated hesitant respondents in Bangkok still believed in the seriousness of COVID-19, in the benefits of mitigation measures, and in the information relayed by health officials. The high professional trust in health experts and scientists in Thailand offered a valuable support mechanism for the government to effectively manage response efforts [28,29].…”

Multi-dimensional potential factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine booster acceptance and hesitancy among university academic community in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional comparative study

“…This study largely benefits health policy makers, health stakeholders, and vaccine promoters in developing evidence-based booster dose promotional planning. Potential factors underlying booster vaccine acceptance and hesitancy would be functional in designing rigorous health interventions involving key messages delivered by community leaders and vaccine policy makers [ 71 ]. This study’s findings therefore provide support in overcoming barriers and propagating facilitators while enhancing teacher and student health engagement in a nationwide booster vaccine roll-out; thus, they may help governments to design a booster dose protocol accordingly.…”