Global COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Rate: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: A vaccine against COVID-19 is a vital tool in managing the current pandemic. It is becoming evident that an effective vaccine would be required to control COVID-19. Effective use of vaccines is important in reducing the pandemic and paving the way for an acceptable exit strategy. Therefore, the current review aimed to determine the global acceptance rate of the COVID-19 vaccine that is necessary for better management of the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: This review was conducted under the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis protocol and considered the studies conducted on the acceptance and / or hesitancy of the COVID-19 vaccine around the world, and written in English language. Articles were searched using electronic databases including PubMed / MEDLINE, Scopus /Science Direct, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, and Google Scholars from February to March 2021 (for articles conducted in 2020) and May to June 2022 (for articles conducted in 2021). The quality of the study was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Assessment tool for prevalence studies to determine the relevance of each included article to the study.Results: A total of 6021 articles were searched through electronic databases, of which 68 articles were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The global pooled acceptance rate of the COVID-19 vaccine was found to be 64.9% [95% CI of 60.5 to 69.0%]. Based on the subgroup analysis of the acceptance rate of the COVID-19 vaccine by WHO region, the countries where the study was conducted, occupation, and survey period was 60.8% [95% CI: 56.3, 65.2%], 61.9% [95% CI: 61.3, 62.4%], 81.6% [95% CI: 79.7, 83, 2%] and 64.5% [95% CI: 60.3, 68.5%], respectively.Conclusions: This review found the variation in the level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate across the world. The study found that the overall prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was 64.9%. This finding indicated that even if the COVID-19 vaccine is developed, the issue of accepting or taking the developed vaccine and managing the pandemic may be difficult.