“This is most likely not the correct vaccine”: Analyzing COVID-19's viral spread and vaccine anxieties in Ghana, Cameroon, and Malawi

Ojöng, Nathanael; Agbe, Eyram

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116001

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…However, vaccines were perceived as unsafe or designed to harm and commonly associated with death, severe disability, infertility, and evil. Ojong and Agbe [ 23 ] exposed COVID-19 vaccine anxieties. Vaccine anxiety was not limited to any particular class or social status.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Malawians: a scoping review

Nkambule,

Mbakaya

2024

Syst Rev

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Background The best chance of eradicating the COVID-19 pandemic lies in a successful vaccination campaign against the virus. There is still hesitancy among some of the Malawians over the use of COVID-19 vaccines that are readily available. This review’s objective was to currently analyze COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Malawians. Methods This scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for Scoping Reviews. An electronic database search was performed using CINAHL, OVID Medline, PubMed, and Google Scholar for studies published between January 1, 2020, and July 10, 2023, on the topic of reluctance toward COVID-19 vaccine in Malawi. A review of the journal titles and abstracts was performed to establish a match within the selection criteria. Based on the parameters of interest, this paper included publications that explicitly mentioned COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Malawi. Results A total of seven articles were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. Some of the eligible Malawian population’s poor response to COVID-19 vaccination was due to hesitancy. Misinformation is primarily to blame for COVID-19 vaccine reluctance. COVID-19 vaccines are viewed as dangerous or intended to cause harm such as the myth that the COVID-19 vaccine would cause infertility, severe disability, and even death. The review revealed that some people choose not to receive vaccines due to religious convictions and beliefs. Some individuals also think that getting the COVID-19 vaccine could result in receiving a triple-six (666) mark from the devil. There were also reports that the COVID-19 vaccination is being considered experimental and ineffective. Conclusions The Malawi government should focus on fear and misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, using interventions, motivational interviews, and individual sensitization. Traditional, religious, and youth-led organizations should provide practical information on COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vaccine anxiety was not limited to any particular class or social status. According to Ojong and Agbe [ 23 ], the fact that a person was vaccinated did not indicate that they had no anxiety, thus context matters.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Malawians: a scoping review

Nkambule,

Mbakaya

2024

Syst Rev

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“…Research on vaccine hesitancy encompasses various approaches, including epidemiological inquiries examining the predictive effects of structural factors and social demographics (2)(3)(4)(5)(6), alongside policy-oriented investigations into factors influencing vaccination willingness, such as safety, effectiveness, accessibility, and institutional trust (7)(8)(9)(10). Recent studies have also explored vaccine hesitancy through the lens of post-modern social theories, touching upon issues like neo-colonialism (11), political ideologies (12), racialism (13,14), conspiracy theories (15,16), and parental norms (17,18).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heritage and hesitancy: how preference for traditional Chinese medicine influences vaccine attitudes

Lan,

Jin

2024

Front. Public Health

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IntroductionVaccine hesitancy, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, is a pressing public health challenge. This study investigates the association between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) preference and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy within China.MethodsThe study uses data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) (N = 2,690). Logistic regressions and Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) method are employed to analyzed the relationship between TCM preference and vaccine hesitancy.ResultsThe study reaffirms prior findings by revealing a robust and stable association between TCM preference and vaccine hesitancy, which remains unaffected by socioeconomic and demographic confounders, as well as institutional trust dynamics of healthcare system. Contrary to expectations, TCM enthusiasts do not exhibit vaccine hesitancy based on divergent epistemological views concerning vaccine risks and immunity acquisition compared to biomedicine.DiscussionThis research enriches understandings of the intricate relations between healthcare paradigms and vaccine attitudes, inviting further inquiry into the role of CAM in shaping vaccination behaviors across different cultures and contexts. The insights bear significant public health implications for enhancing vaccine acceptance and coverage, particularly among populations where CAM practices wield substantial influence.

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