Factors influencing individual vaccine preferences for COVID‐19 in the Sunyani Municipality, Ghana: An observational study using discrete choice experiment analysis

Abstract

AbstractBackground and AimsThere has been hesitancy among people with regard to accepting vaccines, especially that of coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19). This hesitancy is aggravated by the different vaccine alternatives available and what one considers before choosing a particular vaccine. The aim of this article was to investigate some driving factors that can influence an individual's COVID‐19 vaccine preference in the presence of other alternatives, using some specific vaccine characteristics.MethodsDiscrete choice questionnaire was designed using the attributes and their corresponding levels to collect data on participants' preference for a COVID vaccine over a period of 12 Weeks in Sunyani, Ghana, with the help of an observational study design. A total of 150 participants receiving Covid‐19 vaccines at the University of Energy and Natural Resources Hospital were systematically selected and interviewed. Factors considered included: Efficacy of the vaccine, credibility of the manufacturing company, side effects of the vaccine, and availability of the vaccine. Data was analyzed using the conditional probit of the discrete choice experiment (DCE).ResultsResults from the study using the conditional probit of the discrete choice experiment (DCE) showed efficacy, side effects, and availability as significant attributes for preference. However, there was no preference with respect to the credibility of the manufacturing company. In addition, vaccine availability was not a dis‐utility in comparison to the alternatives that are readily available. This disutility was however higher among males than females.ConclusionFrom the study, most respondents preferred a COVID‐19 vaccine that is highly efficacious or a vaccine with milder side effect or a vaccine that may not necessarily be readily available. It was also observed that dis‐utility is higher among males when it comes to vaccine not being readily available than females as the odds of a female choosing a vaccine that is readily available is much higher compared to their males counterparts.