Osong Public Health Res Perspect.  2021 Aug;12(4):236-243. 10.24171/j.phrp.2021.0023.

Perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine and willingness to receive vaccination among health workers in Nigeria

• Adejumo OA
• Ogundele OA
• Madubuko CR
• Oluwafemi RO
• Okoye OC
• Okonkwo KC
• Owolade SS
• Junaid OA
• Lawal OM
• Enikuomehin AC
• Ntaji MI
• Sokunbi A
• Timothy AO
• Abolarin OS
• Ali EO
• Ohaju-Obodo JO

• KMID: 2520028
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2021.0023

Abstract

Objectives
The study aimed to examine health workers’ perceptions of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine in Nigeria and their willingness to receive the vaccine when it becomes available.
Methods
This multi-center cross-sectional study used non-probability convenience sampling to enroll 1,470 hospital workers aged 18 and above from 4 specialized hospitals. A structured and validated self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data entry and analysis were conducted using IBM SPSS ver. 22.0.
Results
The mean age of respondents was 40±6 years. Only 53.5% of the health workers had positive perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine, and only slightly more than half (55.5%) were willing to receive vaccination. Predictors of willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine included having a positive perception of the vaccine (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 4.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.50−5.69), perceiving a risk of contracting COVID-19 (AOR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.25–3.98), having received tertiary education (AOR, 3.50; 95% CI, 1.40−6.86), and being a clinical health worker (AOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.01−1.68).
Conclusion
Perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine and willingness to receive the vaccine were sub-optimal among this group. Educational interventions to improve health workers' perceptions and attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine are needed.

Keyword

COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccine; Health workers; Perception; Willingness; Nigeria