BACKGROUND: Vaccine hesitancy and vaccine inequity are two major hurdles towards achieving population immunity to COVID-19. Although several studies have been published on vaccine hesitancy among numerous populations, there is inadequate information on any potential correlation between vaccine acceptance and lack of access to vaccines. Our cross-sectional study in a low-income country aimed to fill this gap. METHODS: We conducted a nation-wide cross-sectional survey among the general population in Yemen, a low-income conflict country. Participants from all the provinces in Yemen were included in the study. We evaluated factors influencing agreement to accept a COVID-19 vaccine and any potential correlation between vaccine hesitancy and lack of access to vaccines. RESULTS: Overall, 50.1% of the 5329 respondents agreed to accept a COVID-19 vaccine. Only 39.9% of the participants agreed to having access to a COVID-19 vaccine, with females indicating lower access than males. Potential determinants of vaccine acceptance included being male, updating self on the development of vaccines against COVID-19, opinion about severity of COVID-19, anxiety about contracting COVID-19, concerns about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and lack of access to vaccines. CONCLUSIONS: our results indicate that the immediate threat in Yemen towards achieving population immunity is the severe shortage and lack of access to vaccines, rather than vaccine hesitancy.
BACKGROUND: Vaccine hesitancy and vaccine inequity are two major hurdles towards achieving population immunity to COVID-19. Although several studies have been published on vaccine hesitancy among numerous populations, there is inadequate information on any potential correlation between vaccine acceptance and lack of access to vaccines. Our cross-sectional study in a low-income country aimed to fill this gap. METHODS: We conducted a nation-wide cross-sectional survey among the general population in Yemen, a low-income conflict country. Participants from all the provinces in Yemen were included in the study. We evaluated factors influencing agreement to accept a COVID-19 vaccine and any potential correlation between vaccine hesitancy and lack of access to vaccines. RESULTS: Overall, 50.1% of the 5329 respondents agreed to accept a COVID-19 vaccine. Only 39.9% of the participants agreed to having access to a COVID-19 vaccine, with females indicating lower access than males. Potential determinants of vaccine acceptance included being male, updating self on the development of vaccines against COVID-19, opinion about severity of COVID-19, anxiety about contracting COVID-19, concerns about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and lack of access to vaccines. CONCLUSIONS: our results indicate that the immediate threat in Yemen towards achieving population immunity is the severe shortage and lack of access to vaccines, rather than vaccine hesitancy.
Authors: Allen Kabagenyi; Ronald Wasswa; Betty K Nannyonga; Evelyne B Nyachwo; Atek Kagirita; Juliet Nabirye; Leonard Atuhaire; Peter Waiswa Journal: Int J Gen Med Date: 2022-08-27
Authors: Mohammed Alshakka; Najmaddin A H Hatem; Wafa Badullah; Rabab Alsakaf; Ali Rageh; Seena Abdulla Yousef; Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim Journal: Pragmat Obs Res Date: 2022-08-25
Authors: Mohammed Noushad; Mohammad Zakaria Nassani; Mohammed Sadeg Al-Awar; Inas Shakeeb Al-Saqqaf; Sami Osman Abuzied Mohammed; Abdulaziz Samran; Ali Ango Yaroko; Ali Barakat; Omar Salad Elmi; Anas B Alsalhani; Yousef Fouad Talic; Samer Rastam Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-07-11