Appraisal of Public Opinions Towards Potential COVID-19 Vaccination in FCT-Abuja Nigeria

Abstract

The emergence of the novel Coronavirus Disease in 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, and the subsequent global threat, resulting in the current pandemic in over 215 countries, characterized by alarming morbidity, mortality, and social effects in affected humans, as well as an economic downturn due to national and international border closures used as a containment strategy, necessitated this study to assess the opinions of the public on the potential vaccination against COVID-19. This research primarily aims to provide policy makers with useful information on public perceptions of the disease, as well as public knowledge and preparedness for its prevention and eventual eradication. Two hundred (200) organized open-ended questionnaires were distributed at random across the six (6) Area Councils in Abuja, Nigeria. The responses were subjected to the Pearson Chi-Square Test at a CI of 95 % and a level of significance of 5%. Of the 1200 respondents sampled, 976 (81.3%) were willing to be immunized if vaccines were available. However, 5 (0.4%) respondents expressed indifference, while 219 (18.3%) respondents did not support the use of COVID-19 vaccine for a variety of reasons, including a lack of confidence in the vaccine, belief in God for COVID-19 virus safety, and fear and dislike of injectable drugs. Thus, showing a vaccine response that was significantly affected by religion, marital status and education (P<0.05). According to the results of the current study, respondents believe the novel Coronavirus has the potential to cause varying degrees of damage, eventually leading to death. However, their response revealed that vaccine acceptance could be hampered by distrust and other apprehensions. As a result, vaccinations must be implemented strategically and with enough publicity for the intent of enlightenment, empowering citizens to adopt the established intervention mechanism.