Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Urban Healthcare Workers And Non-Healthcare Workers in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria

Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Urban Healthcare Workers And Non-Healthcare Workers in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Urban Healthcare Workers And Non-Healthcare Workers in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria Samuel Olusegun Itodo, Stephen Olaide Aremu, Jeremiah John Oloche, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5368577/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 26 Apr, 2025 Read the published version in Discover Public Health → Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 and is believed to be transmitted through respiratory droplets and contacts. Currently, there is no approved COVID-19 treatment but vaccines have developed against the disease. Vaccine hesitancy, however, can limit the success of vaccination. Objective The study investigated the knowledge of COVID-19 and apathetic behavior (hesitancy) towards vaccination among the mixed professional population of sub-urban dwellers in three senatorial districts of Benue State. Methods The research was a cross-sectional study involving self-administered questionnaire. The data generated was subjected to descriptive statistics and Chi-square. Statistical significance was placed at p < 0.05. Result A total of 500 questionnaires were administered; however 336 respondents representing 67.2% returned questionnaires. There was no statistical difference (p < 0.05) between health workers (55.4%) and non-health workers (44.6%). There exists an association between study sites, profession, and educational qualification, with knowledge of COVID-19 and accent to vaccination. A significant (p < 0.05) 76.2% of acknowledge the existence and infectivity of COVID-19. Interestingly, 39.6% and 47.3% of the study population sanctioned social distancing and hand hygiene as COVID-19 preventive measures. Although 73.0% show knowledge of various COVID-19 vaccines and profess vaccination as a protective measure, however, 65.7% were unsure whether vaccination protects against the disease. Side effects from previous immunization and perceived inadequate knowledge of managing vaccination adverse effects were among the reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion Vaccination and preventive measures are top priorities in diseases with no approved treatment. An urgent increase in the level of advocacy and awareness of the disease is needed because of high vaccine hesitancy among health workers that constitute a significant proportion of the study population. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance vaccination preferences health education vaccine hesitancy public health Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has presented the world with a set of challenges unparalleled in modern times, profoundly affecting health, economic stability, and social well-being on a global scale [ 1 – 4 ]. The virus has led to millions of infections and an overwhelming number of deaths worldwide, testing the limits of healthcare systems and exposing deep-rooted vulnerabilities in healthcare infrastructure and public health readiness [ 5 – 6 ]. The rapid and widespread transmission of the virus placed immense strain on hospitals and clinics, leading to shortages in essential medical supplies and healthcare personnel [ 7 – 11 ]. The socioeconomic effects have been similarly far-reaching, disrupting global trade, causing significant job losses, and exacerbating inequalities, with marginalized communities bearing the brunt of both the virus and the economic downturn it triggered [ 12 – 13 ]. Moreover, the pandemic revealed critical gaps in health communication, disease prevention, and emergency response, underscoring the need for resilient public health systems capable of addressing crises effectively [ 14 ]. The development and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines marked a turning point in the fight against the pandemic, offering a viable path to controlling viral spread and protecting public health [ 15 – 16 ]. Vaccines, by preventing severe illness and death, have played a central role in easing the burden on healthcare systems, thereby allowing societies to gradually return to normalcy [ 17 – 18 ]. Consequently, many countries rapidly launched mass vaccination campaigns aimed at reaching herd immunity. However, the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines has not been uniform, varying widely across countries and even within communities [ 19 – 20 ]. These variations are largely attributed to a combination of logistical challenges, such as vaccine availability and distribution, as well as sociocultural factors like trust in healthcare authorities, religious beliefs, and the perceived risks versus benefits of vaccination [ 21 – 24 ]. Additionally, public opinion on vaccines has been shaped by cultural beliefs and by the presence of misinformation and conspiracy theories, which have contributed to vaccine hesitancy in many areas, particularly in countries where historical distrust in health systems exists [ 25 – 38 ]. In Nigeria, the landscape of vaccine acceptance reflects these complex dynamics. As in many countries, the Nigerian government has been working to provide COVID-19 vaccines to its citizens and ensure that the public has accurate information on vaccine benefits [ 28 ]. However, vaccine uptake in Nigeria has faced significant obstacles, including misinformation and fears surrounding vaccine safety [ 28 , 39 , 43 ]. Nigeria has a history of vaccine hesitancy influenced by past events, such as the polio vaccine boycott in certain regions, which was driven by concerns over the vaccine's safety and origins [ 39 – 42 ]. These past events, coupled with the rapid pace at which COVID-19 vaccines were developed, have raised skepticism among some Nigerians, further compounded by religious and cultural beliefs that influence health-related decisions. Consequently, vaccination campaigns in Nigeria have encountered varying levels of success, with some communities exhibiting high acceptance and others showing considerable resistance [ 44 ]. Benue State serves as a microcosm of these broader national and international trends, displaying a range of responses toward COVID-19 vaccination despite concerted efforts by local authorities to improve vaccine access [ 45 ]. Public opinion on vaccination in Benue State is mixed, with some individuals willing to receive the vaccine and others demonstrating hesitancy due to fears about vaccine side effects, mistrust in the health system, and religious or cultural influences. Understanding the extent of vaccine acceptance in Benue State and identifying the factors that shape individual choices can offer crucial insights for improving public health interventions and enhancing the effectiveness of vaccination efforts. Additionally, identifying the types of vaccines that residents are most likely to accept may provide practical guidance for future campaigns, allowing health authorities to prioritize vaccines that align with public preferences. This study is designed to assess COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Benue State, with an emphasis on understanding which types of vaccines are preferred by the population. By evaluating the proportion of individuals who have received the vaccine, exploring the reasons for vaccine hesitancy, and identifying the types of vaccines that individuals are open to receiving, this research aims to contribute to a body of knowledge that can assist in developing targeted vaccination strategies. Specifically, the study seeks to achieve the following objectives: Firstly, to determine the proportion of individuals in Benue State who have received a COVID-19 vaccine since the vaccines were introduced, secondly, to identify the specific types of COVID-19 vaccines administered to those who have been vaccinated, thirdly, to evaluate the willingness of unvaccinated individuals to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if it were readily available to them, and finally, to analyze demographic and contextual factors that influence vaccine acceptance and preferences among residents of Benue State. The findings from this study will provide valuable insights into public perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination in Benue State, helping health authorities and policymakers design more effective, culturally sensitive, and evidence-based approaches to vaccination outreach. This information can be instrumental in addressing the gaps in vaccine coverage, thereby contributing to efforts to achieve widespread immunity and to mitigate the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria and similar settings. Methodology Research Design A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed to assess the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and preferred vaccine types among residents of Benue State. This design was selected because it allows for the collection of data at a single point in time to examine the prevalence of vaccine acceptance, reasons for acceptance or hesitancy, and the types of vaccines preferred by the population. A quantitative approach was used to enable statistical analysis, providing a robust understanding of vaccine acceptance trends and factors influencing preferences. Study Area The study was conducted in Benue State, located in the North Central region of Nigeria. Benue State has a population of approximately 5.7 million people, with diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The state is largely rural, with agriculture as the primary occupation for most residents. Health infrastructure varies across the state, with urban areas better served compared to rural areas. The COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in Benue have been impacted by logistical challenges, varying levels of vaccine availability, and mixed responses from the public, making it a relevant location for studying vaccine acceptance and preferences. Study Population The study population consisted of adults aged 18 years and above residing in Benue State. This group was chosen as they represent the primary target population for COVID-19 vaccination programs. The inclusion criteria required participants to be permanent residents of Benue State and to be aware of the COVID-19 vaccination program implemented in the state. The study aimed to capture a broad range of demographic and socioeconomic groups to ensure a comprehensive understanding of vaccine acceptance across different segments of the population. The sample size for this study was determined using Cochran’s formula, which is suitable for large populations. This approach allowed us to estimate the minimum number of respondents needed to obtain statistically reliable results. Cochran’s formula is represented as: n = {Z^2 × p × (1 − p) }/d^2 = where: n is the required sample size, Z is the Z-score associated with a 95% confidence level, which is 1.96, p is the estimated proportion of vaccine acceptance in the population, assumed to be 50% due to a lack of precise data specific to this region, d is the margin of error, set at 5% for this study. Substituting these values into the formula: n = 1.962×0.5 × (1 − 0.5) / 0.05^2 = 3.84.16 This calculation yielded a sample size of approximately 384 respondents. However, due to logistical and budgetary constraints, a final sample size of 336 respondents was selected. Despite the reduction, this sample size was deemed sufficient to maintain the statistical power needed to detect meaningful patterns and relationships in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and preferences among the population. Sampling Technique A multi-stage sampling technique was utilized to select the respondents. In the first stage, local government areas (LGAs) were stratified by urban and rural status to ensure representation from both types of areas. From each stratum, specific LGAs were randomly selected. In the second stage, communities within each LGA were randomly selected. Finally, households within each selected community were systematically sampled, and one adult respondent per household was chosen to participate. This approach minimized selection bias and ensured that the sample was representative of the wider population of Benue State. Data Collection Methods Data collection was conducted using structured questionnaires administered through face-to-face interviews by trained research assistants. This method was chosen to ensure high response rates, especially given the low literacy levels in some rural areas, and to allow respondents to seek clarification if they had questions about specific items. The questionnaire included sections on demographic information, COVID-19 vaccination status, reasons for vaccine acceptance or hesitancy, and preferences for different types of COVID-19 vaccines. Research Instrument The questionnaire used in this study was designed based on a comprehensive review of the literature on vaccine acceptance and COVID-19 vaccination. It was structured into four main sections: Demographics : Included questions on age, gender, educational level, employment status, and location (urban or rural). Vaccination Status : Asked respondents if they had received any COVID-19 vaccine and, if so, which type. Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy : Assessed willingness to receive a vaccine if unvaccinated and reasons for acceptance or refusal. Vaccine Preferences : For those vaccinated, included questions on the type of vaccine received and reasons for preferring certain vaccine types. Validity and Reliability To ensure validity, the questionnaire was reviewed by experts in public health and epidemiology for content and face validity, ensuring that the items were relevant, clear, and capable of capturing the intended information. A pilot test was conducted with 30 respondents outside the study area to assess the clarity and relevance of the questions. Based on feedback from the pilot, minor modifications were made to improve the clarity and structure of the questionnaire. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha for the questions related to vaccine acceptance and hesitancy, yielding an alpha coefficient of 0.78, which indicated an acceptable level of internal consistency. Data Analysis Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and means, were calculated to describe the demographic characteristics of the respondents, their vaccination status, and their preferences for different vaccine types. Cross-tabulations and chi-square tests were used to assess associations between demographic variables (such as age, gender, education, and urban/rural location) and vaccine acceptance. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of vaccine acceptance, focusing on variables such as educational level, employment status, and geographic location. The adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported for significant predictors, offering insights into the likelihood of vaccine acceptance across different subgroups. Ethical Considerations Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Benue State Ministry of Health’s Research Ethics Committee. Written informed consent was obtained from all respondents before participation, with assurance that their participation was voluntary and that they could withdraw at any time without consequence. Respondents were informed about the purpose of the study, and confidentiality was strictly maintained throughout the data collection and analysis process. Identifiable information was not collected, and data were stored securely, accessible only to the research team. Results Demography of respondents The study was a state wide survey on the knowledge and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine in the three senatorial districts (namely zone A, B, and zone C) of Benue State North central Nigeria (Table 1). About 132(39.3%) were from zone C. The chi squared test showed that there was a significant relationship between the study sites and the reception of COVID-19 vaccine X 2 = 11.130 (df = 2, P = 0.004). The average age of those who are hesitant to COVID-19 vaccine is 43.5 years, and majority of them were in the age bracket of 39-48years 112(33.3%). Age as social demographic variables showed no significant relationship between age and the reception of COVID-19 vaccine X 2 = 336 (df = 3, P = 0.954). There is a significant relationship between gender and the reception of COVID-19 vaccine X 2 = 5.529 (df = 1, P = 0.019). Most of the respondents reported their tribe to be Tiv 170(50.6%), a combination of zones A and B ((Fig. 1 ). The tribe of the respondent has no significant relationship with reception of COVID − 19 vaccine X 2 = 5.517 (df = 6, P = 0.479). Religion has no significant relationship with reception of COVID-19 vaccine X 2 = .049 (df = 1, P = 0.849). The data shows that a significant proportion of the respondents in this study practice Christianity 332(98.8%), while 4(1.2%) practice Islam. Most of the respondents marital appear to be single 216(64.3%) with a significant number of them married 110(32.7%). There was a significant relation between marital status and the reception of COVID-19 vaccine X 2 = 17.464 (df = 3, P = 0.001). Table 1.0 SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTIC Variables Frequency (N = 336) Percent (%) X 2 P Study sites Zone A 79 23.5 11.130 0.004 Zone B 125 37.2 Zone C 132 39.3 Age 18–28 52 15.5 .336 0.954 29–38 84 25.0 39–48 112 33.3 49–58 88 26.0 Gender Male 167 49.7 5.529 0.019 Female 169 50.3 Tribe Tiv 170 50.6 5.517 0.479 Idoma 109 32.4 Igede 18 5.4 Hausa 4 0.9 Yoruba 3 1.2 Igbo 18 5.4 Others 14 4.2 Religion Christianity 332 98.8 .049 0.842 Islam 4 1.2 Marital status Married 110 32.7 17.464 0.001 Single 216 64.3 Separated 2 0.6 Widow(er) 8 2.4 Marital, occupational, educational and income status distribution of respondents The religious affiliations of the participants were 98.8% were Christians and 1.2% non-Christians. On the contrary, the marital status significantly (p < 0.05) varied among participants with approximately 64.3% are single. A smaller yet noteworthy segment, constituting 32.7%, while 2.4% are widows and widower and 0.6% navigates the complexities of separated. This distribution highlights the prevailing marital dynamics within the study population under scrutiny (Fig. 2). Table 2 shows the occupation distribution of the respondents. Most of the respondents reported their occupation to be student 181(53.9%), followed by a substantial number who are civil servants 83(24.7%) and next are public servants 22(6.5%). Those who are unemployed are 3(0.9%). There is a statistically significant relationship with occupation and the reception of COVID-19 vaccine. X 2 =31.261(df=8, P=0.000). Majority of those captured in the study group are health workers 186(55.4%) however, 150(44.6%) are non-health workers. There is a statistically significant relationship between the study group and prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine X 2 =7.093(df=1, P=0.008). Among the category of health workers most of the respondent are pharmacist 125(37.2%) and next to them are nurses 49(14.6%) there is no statistically significant relationship between category of health workers and the reception of COVID-19 vaccine X 2 = 2.972(df = 5, P = 0.0704). Also, most of them have primary school as their highest level of education, however, 89(26.5%) attended Secondary school while the post graduate are 42(12.5%). There is no statistically significant relationship between levels of education and the reception of COVID-19 vaccine X 2 = 4.598(df = 4, P = 0.331). The study further unravel that the highest respondents were those that earn nothing 136(40.5%) and for those who earns the highest respondent earns < 30,000 naira 98(29.2%). There is a statistically significant relationship between monthly income in naira and reception of COVID-19 vaccine X 2 = 17.003(df = 4, P = 0.02). A significant (p < 0.05) 55.4% of individuals have pursued graduate or tertiary education, reflecting a commitment to advanced learning. Those with secondary education 26.5% of the sample population, 12.5% postgraduate and 4.8 a modest 4.8% hold primary qualifications. In addition data on the monthly income levels is shown in Fig. 3 . A significantly low (p < 0.05) percentage of the sample population, 17.8% earn ≥ 190,000, while 12.5% (30,000–190,000), 29.2% (< 30,000). Interestingly, a significant 40.5% indicated that they have no monthly earning (Fig. 3 ). Table 2 Occupational characteristics of respondents Variable Frequency (N = 336) Percent (%) X 2 P Occupation Civil servant 83 24.7 31.261 0.000 Farmer 11 3.3 Public servant 22 6.5 Teacher 12 3.6 Trader 3 .9 Self employed 13 3.9 Unemployed 3 .9 Others 8 2.4 Study group Health workers 186 55.4 7.093 0.008 Non health worker 150 44.6 Category of health care worker Community health extension worker 43 12.8 2.972 .0704 Doctor 46 13.7 Medical laboratory scientist 40 11.9 Nurse 49 14.6 Pharmacist 125 37.2 Others 125 37.2 Level of education Post graduate 42 12.5 4.598 0.331 Primary 186 55.4 Secondary 89 26.5 Tertiary 16 4.8 None 3 0.9 Assessment of the level of knowledge of COVID 19 and vaccination The result of the level knowledge of COVID-19 and vaccine by the respondent is shown in Table 3 . When asked if COVID-19 is a hoax? A significant (p < 0.05) 49.1% responded strongly disagree, 27.1% disagree, 17.0% agree while 6.8%strongly agree. To further probe the initial response, the researcher questioned if COVID-19 is a human invention, 32.1% agree, 31.5% disagree, 21.4% strongly disagree and 14.9% strongly agree. To ascertain the respondents’ conviction of the disease and deaths from COVID − 19, 37.8% of the respondents agree that COVID-19 is real and causes severe disease or death, 36.3% strongly agree, 18.5% disagree and 7.4% strongly disagree. Data collected shows that 34.2% of the study population strongly disagree that they don’t have anything to believe about COVID-19 (Table 3 ). Table 3 Knowledge about covid-19 and vaccine Covid-19 is a hoax Frequency N = 336 Percentage % Agree 57 17.0 Disagree 91 27.1 Strongly agree 23 6.8 Strongly disagree 165 49.1 Covid-19 is an invention of man Agree 108 32.1 Disagree 62 18.5 Strongly agree 50 14.9 Strongly disagree 72 21.4 Covid-19 is real and causes severe disease or death Agree 127 37.8 Disagree 62 18.5 Strongly agree 122 36.3 Strongly disagree 115 34.2 I am not sure of what to believe about covid-19 Agree 83 24.7 Disagree 100 29.8 Strongly agree 38 11.3 Strongly disagree 115 34.2 Expression on COVID – 19 preventive measures Due to the variability of responses obtained from the respondents on the existence of COVID-19, investigating the expression of the knowledge on preventive measures was necessary. Those that strongly agree, disagree or strongly disagree that social distances is one the preventive measures were 39.6%, 13,7% and 8.3% respectively, of the respondents (Table 4 ). A great number of respondents, 47.3% who strongly agree and 35.4% who agree that hand hygiene can prevent COVID-19 infection, while, 12.2% disagree and 5.1% strongly disagree. 45.2% strongly agree that wearing of facemask can prevent it, 33.6% agree, 17.3% disagree and few respondents of 3.9% strongly disagree. In the choice of vaccines or local herbs, 43.2% agree to it, 29.8% strongly agree, 17.9% disagree and 9.2% strongly agree that vaccines are preventive measures. Surprisingly, 50.3% strongly disagree, 30.4% disagree, 15.5% agree and 3.9% strongly agree to the use of local herb for the prevention of the disease. Of the study population, 32.1% strongly disagree that taking of supplement can play a good role in the disease prevention, 30.7% disagree, 29.8% agree while 7.4% strongly agree. In response to the availability of a specific treatment of COVID-19, 35.1% disagree, 32.1% agree while 21.7% strongly disagree and 11.0% strongly agree to that assertion. An evaluation of the knowledge of the respondents on available COVID-19 vaccines, they were asked if they know any available COVID-19 vaccine? 60.7% of the respondents said NO while 39.3% responded Yes. Those who said yes in regards to knowing available resource identified the type they know. viral vector base vaccine (e.g Johnson and Johnson, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, convidicia) is the well-known vaccine with a popularity of 48.5%, next to it is the Recombinant vaccines (Sanofi/GSK, Novavax) with 10.7%, live attenuated vaccines has 10.0%, then mRNA vaccine (e.g pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna) and peptide vaccine (EpiVacCorona) both having 7.4% each. While 3.9% only knows killed vaccines (sino Vac, Bharat Biotech, CoviVac, sinopharm) and 16.1% were not applicable because they were naive about the vaccine (Table 4 ). Table 4 Knowledge of preventive measures against COVID-19 Variables Frequency (N = 336) Percent (%) Social distancing Agree 129 38.4 Disagree 46 13.7 Strongly agree 133 39.6 Strongly disagree 28 8.3 Hand hygiene Agree 119 35.4 Disagree 41 12.2 Strongly agree 159 47.3 Strongly disagree 17 5.1 Wearing of facemask Agree 113 33.6 Disagree 58 17.3 Strongly agree 152 45.2 Strongly disagree 13 3.9 Vaccine Agree 145 43.2 Disagree 60 17.9 Strongly agree 100 29.8 Strongly disagree 31 9.2 Local herbs Agree 52 15.5 Disagree 102 30.4 Strongly agree 13 3.9 Strongly disagree 169 50.3 Taking supplements Agree 100 29.8 Disagree 103 30.7 Strongly agree 25 7.4 Strongly disagree 108 32.1 Some specific medication Agree 108 32.1 Disagree 118 35.1 Strongly agree 37 11.0 Strongly disagree 73 21.7 Do you know any available covid-19 vaccines Yes 132 39.3 No 204 60.7 Which of the following type of covid-19 vaccines do you know killed vaccines (sino Vac, Bharat Biotech, CoviVac, sinopharm). 13 3.9 live attenuated vaccines. 34 10.0 mRNA vaccine (e.g pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna). 25 7.4 peptide vaccine (EpiVacCorona). 25 7.4 Recombinant vaccines (Sanofi/GSK, Novavax). 36 10.7 Viral vector base vaccine (e.g Johnson and Johnson, Oxford/astraZeneca, Sputnik V, convidicia). 148 48.5 Not applicable 54 16.1 Where do you get most of your information on covid-19 pandemic and vaccine? electronic media (television, radio) 160 47.6 friends/colleagues 8 2.4 government, international and other health authorities 26 7.7 medical journals or literature 15 4.5 print media (newspaper, magazines) 41 12.2 social media 86 25.6 Demographic presentation of vaccine-type rejection On presentation of available COVID-19 vaccines to the respondents with equal opportunity to make choices of the vaccine type they would accept/reject. 21.4% rejected the viral vector based vaccine (e.g Johnson and Johnson, Oxford/astraZeneca, Sputnik V, convidicia), 8.0% rejected killed vaccines (sino Vac, Bharat Biotech, CoviVac, sinopharm), 6.5% live attenuated vaccine, peptide vaccine (EpiVacCorona) 3.9% said they would rather not choose mRNA vaccine (e.g pFizer/BioNTech, Moderna) while 2.1% rejected Recombinant vaccines (Sanofi/GSK, Novavax). The data on vaccine-type rejection is shown (Fig. 4 ). Perceived susceptible to COVID-19 risk and confidence on COVID-19 vaccination Questionnaires were administered to the respondents during the wave of COVID-19 pandemic to investigate their perception on susceptibility to the pathogen and confidence on the vaccines being distributed. A significant percentage of the respondents (47.6%) claimed that their source of information on the disease was the electronic media; television and radio. The contribution of social media to the dissemination of information on COVID-19 was also significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to other sources including printed media (12.2%), Health authorities and Government sources (7.7%) and medical journals (4.5%). Surprisingly, only 2.4% of the total respondents received information on COVID-19 virus and vaccine from colleagues and friends. The study probed the respondents on their level of awareness of transmissibility of the virus relative to chances of being infected with the wave of the pandemic in the a few months time, 61.9% strongly disagree, 24.7% disagree, 9.5% agree and 3.9% strongly agree. We further investigated whether the respondents were anxious or worried on the likelihood of infected with COVID-19. A statistically significant percentage, 41.9%% strongly disagree compared to 8.9% that strongly agree that they were anxious that they could be infected (Table 5 ). Table 5 Perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 infection Variables Frequency N = 336 Percent (%) There is a high chance that I will be infected with covid-19 in the next few months Agree 32 9.5 Disagree 83 24.7 Strongly agree 13 3.9 Strongly disagree 208 61.9 I am worried about the likelihood of getting covid-19 Agree 74 22.0 Disagree 67 19.9 Strongly agree 30 8.9 Strongly disagree 165 49.1 Having a covid-19 is currently a possibility for me Agree 54 16.1 Disagree 80 23.8 Strongly agree 23 6.8 Strongly disagree 179 53.3 The perception of the respondents on benefit of COVID-19 is shown in Table 6 . A significant proportion (p < 0.05), 41.7% and 49.1% of the respondents agree that the vaccination is good and makes them less anxious of being infected COVID-19 and decreases chances of being infected, respectively. However, 12.2% and 6.0% strongly disagree that vaccination against COVID-19 decreased their anxiety of being infected and that the vaccination is beneficial, respectively. Table 6 Respondents perception on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination Variables Frequency (N = 336) Percentage (%) Vaccination is good because it makes people worried about catching covid-19 Agree 140 41.7 Disagree 68 20.2 Strongly agree 87 25.9 Strongly disagree 41 12.2 Vaccination decreases a person chance of getting covid-19 Agree 165 49.1 Disagree 52 15.5 Strongly agree 99 29.5 Strongly disagree 20 6.0 Vaccination decreases a person chance of getting severe forms of covid-19 Agree 161 47.9 Disagree 70 20.8 Strongly agree 92 27.4 Strongly disagree 13 3.9 Vaccination decreases a person chance of getting covid-19 if he or has it before. Agree 141 35.4 Disagree 93 27.7 Strongly agree 62 18.5 Strongly disagree 40 11.9 An assessment of the perceived barriers to get vaccination was carried out and shown in Table 7 . On the basis of past experience and interference with normal activities due possible side effect of COVID-19 vaccination, the proportion of the respondents (35.4%) that agree was not significantly different (p < 0.05) compared to 28.6% that disagree. Respondents’ expression of not getting compensated in the event of major adverse effects associated with vaccination. A significant proportion of 38.7% strongly agree, compared to 7.7% disagree with the idea that lack of compensation is a barrier to getting vaccination. Other barriers include poor government effort in trying to curb the menace the spread of virus, negative past experience of taking immunization, cultural and religious beliefs, low level of health care worker training in the administration the COVID-19 vaccine and management of possible adverse effects (Table 7 ). Table 7 Perceived barriers to getting of vaccination and effects of past experience Variables Frequency (= 336) Percent (%) I am worried about the possible side effect of covid-19 vaccination would interfere with my usual activities Agree 119 35.4 Disagree 96 28.6 Strongly agree 69 20.5 Strongly disagree 52 15.5 I am concerned if covid-19 vaccines truly protect a person from getting the disease Agree 151 44.9 Disagree 83 24.7 Strongly agree 70 20.8 Strongly disagree 32 9.5 I am concerned I may not get compensation if the side effect of taking the covid-19 vaccine Agree 126 37.5 Disagree 53 15.8 Strongly agree 102 30.4 Strongly disagree 55 16.4 I don’t trust the government approach to covid-19 pandemic Agree 120 35.7 Disagree 26 7.7 Strongly agree 130 38.7 Strongly disagree 60 17.9 My experience with previous immunization activities will affect my decision or otherwise to covid-19 vaccines Agree 63 18.8 Disagree 109 32.4 Strongly agree 37 11.0 Strongly disagree 127 37.8 I am concerned about the low level of health workers training giving the vaccine Agree 132 39.3 Disagree 82 24.4 Strongly agree 90 26.8 Strongly disagree 32 9.5 My faith tells me I am protected by spiritual powers and would not need to take such vaccine Agree 63 18.8 Disagree 109 32.4 Strongly agree 37 11.0 Strongly disagree 12.7 37.8 My culture/tradition does not allow me to take such vaccines Agree 34 10.1 Disagree 109 31.5 Strongly agree 19 5.7 Strongly disagree 177 52.7 My family and friends will determine if I will take the vaccine Agree 53 15.8 Disagree 104 31.0 Strongly agree 32 9.5 Strongly disagree 147 43.8 The response of the study population to the world wide campaign on vaccination against COVID-19 is shown in Fig. 5 . The proportion of the population under investigation that received COVID-19 vaccine was 20.5% which was significant low (p < 0.05) compared 79.5% that did not receive the vaccine. The percentage of the respondent that received the different vaccine type is shown in Table 8 . 12.5% of the respondents received viral vector base vaccine (e.g Johnson and Johnson,Oxford/ AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, convidicea), 3.6% killed vaccines (sino Vac, Bharat Biotech, CoviVac, sinopharm), 3.3% mRNA vaccine (e.g Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna) while 0.6% respondent received live attenuated vaccines and Recombinant vaccines (Sanofi, GSK,Novavax) respectively and 79.5 were not applicable (Table 8 ). Table 8 Respondents’ acceptance choice of type of COVID-19 vaccine Variables Frequency (N = 336) Percentage (%) Have you received covid-19 vaccine since it came to the state? Yes 69 20.5 No 267 79.5 If yes, which type did you receive? Killed vaccines (sino Vac, Bharat Biotech, CoviVac, sinopharm) 12 3.6 Live attenuated vaccines 2 .6 mRNA vaccine (e.g Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna) 11 3.3 Recombinant vaccines (Sanofi, GSK,Novavax) 2 .6 Viral vector base vaccine (e.g Johnson and Johnson,Oxford/ AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, convidicea) 42 12.5 Not applicable 267 79.5 If no would you take the covid-19 vaccine if made available Yes 156 46.4 No 180 53.6 The results from Table 8 provide an in-depth look at respondents' choices regarding COVID-19 vaccine types and their acceptance levels in Benue State, Nigeria. Out of the 336 respondents, only 20.5% reported having received a COVID-19 vaccine, while a significant 79.5% had not. This high percentage of unvaccinated individuals highlights a considerable level of vaccine hesitancy or lack of access within the population. For those who received the vaccine, the most common type administered was the viral vector-based vaccine (e.g., Johnson and Johnson, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Convidicea), accounting for 12.5% of respondents. The preference for or availability of viral vector vaccines could be due to their distribution in the region or perceptions of their effectiveness and safety compared to other types. Following this, killed (inactivated) vaccines, such as SinoVac, Bharat Biotech, CoviVac, and Sinopharm, were received by 3.6% of respondents, while mRNA vaccines, including Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, were received by 3.3%. This limited uptake of mRNA vaccines could reflect either distribution limitations in the region or preferences influenced by familiarity with other vaccine types. Only 0.6% of respondents reported receiving live attenuated or recombinant vaccines (such as those from Sanofi, GSK, and Novavax), indicating very limited exposure to these types within the population. Among those who had not yet received the vaccine, a split in willingness to accept it if made available was observed. Approximately 46.4% of unvaccinated respondents expressed willingness to receive the vaccine, whereas a slightly larger proportion, 53.6%, indicated they would not. This majority refusal rate underscores persistent hesitancy and possible concerns about the vaccine, including doubts about its safety, efficacy, or potential side effects. Discussions The findings of this study on COVID-19 vaccine knowledge and acceptance among respondents in Benue State, Nigeria, offer a comprehensive understanding of sociodemographic characteristics and perceptions toward vaccination in the region. A significant portion of the respondents, particularly those from Zone C, demonstrated higher vaccine reception rates, as indicated by the statistically significant association between study sites and vaccine reception (p = 0.004). This may suggest regional variations in awareness or accessibility that influence vaccine acceptance, possibly shaped by differences in public health outreach and information dissemination across zones [ 46 ]. Such regional disparities in vaccine acceptance highlight the need for targeted interventions, especially in areas with lower acceptance rates [ 47 ]. Effective public health outreach that addresses specific community concerns and builds trust can be instrumental in enhancing vaccine confidence, particularly in low- and middle-income regions where hesitancy may be linked to socioeconomic factors [ 48 – 51 ]. Age, often cited as a predictor of vaccine hesitancy, showed no significant correlation with COVID-19 vaccine reception in this survey. This finding is intriguing given that the mean age of hesitant individuals was 43.5 years, mostly within the 39–48 age range. Such results may imply that other factors outweigh age in shaping vaccine attitudes within this population, contrasting with previous studies highlighting age-related vaccine hesitancy trends [ 52 ]. On the other hand, gender did show a statistically significant relationship with vaccine reception, with a slight majority among female respondents—a result consistent with existing research showing gender differences in health behaviors, including vaccine uptake, often tied to safety concerns and misinformation [ 53 – 55 ]. Such that incorporating gender-sensitive approaches in vaccine communication strategies could be beneficial [ 56 – 57 ]. The distribution of respondents across tribal and religious groups presents additional insights into sociocultural factors that may affect vaccine reception. The majority identified as Tiv, a group predominantly located in Zones A and B; however, tribal affiliation was not a significant factor in vaccine acceptance, suggesting that while cultural identity is a crucial aspect of the population, it does not significantly influence individual vaccination decisions. This aligns with studies suggesting that, although cultural factors play a role in shaping general attitudes, they may not always translate to vaccine hesitancy in predictable ways [ 58 – 59 ] religious affiliation did not play a significant role in vaccine acceptance, as nearly all respondents identified as Christians, supporting previous findings that show religion alone may not significantly impact vaccine acceptance [ 60 – 61 ]. These findings reveal that demographic variables like ethnicity and religion may not pose substantial barriers to vaccine acceptance [ 62 – 63 ]. However, targeted interventions may target cultural competency to ensure messages resonate across various community identities [ 64 ]. Marital status emerged as a significant factor in vaccine acceptance, with single respondents showing higher hesitancy levels. Married individuals, who represented a substantial portion of the study population, showed a stronger inclination toward vaccine acceptance, potentially due to greater health consciousness and concern for family well-being among married respondents. Research has indicated that marital and family obligations can increase health motivation, aligning with our findings on vaccine reception [ 65 ]. This influence suggests that family-oriented messaging could enhance vaccine acceptance by emphasizing the protection of loved ones as a motivational factor [ 66 ]. Occupational status also proved to be significantly associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Most respondents were students, followed by civil servants and public servants. Notably, a higher proportion of health workers were vaccinated compared to non-health workers, indicating a likely correlation between medical knowledge and vaccine acceptance [ 54 , 55 , 67 – 70 ]. Although health workers, particularly pharmacists and nurses, formed a substantial segment of the study sample, no significant correlation emerged between specific healthcare roles and vaccine reception. This suggests that while healthcare professionals generally accept the vaccine, individual roles within the healthcare sector do not necessarily predict acceptance. Campaigns to increase vaccination rates among non-health workers could benefit from leveraging the positive reception observed among healthcare professionals, positioning them as advocates in public awareness efforts [ 52 , 57 ]. Education levels among respondents revealed interesting trends, although there was no statistically significant association between educational attainment and vaccine acceptance. A large proportion of respondents had only primary-level education, with smaller segments having secondary or tertiary education. The prevalence of respondents with limited formal education highlights potential informational gaps that could hinder vaccine acceptance. Vaccine communication strategies must address these educational disparities by providing clear, accessible information about COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in local languages and simplified formats [ 71 – 75 ]. Additionally, income emerged as a significant factor, with a considerable portion of the respondents indicating no monthly earnings, a demographic particularly relevant to public health interventions [ 76 – 77 ]. Income disparity and economic hardship could impact vaccine attitudes, as lower-income individuals might prioritize immediate financial needs over health-related decisions, particularly if vaccine access is perceived as costly or inconvenient [ 78 – 79 ]. In examining COVID-19 knowledge and attitudes, many respondents disagreed with misinformation statements, such as the notion that COVID-19 is a hoax or a human invention. However, the fact that a significant proportion either agreed or were unsure about these statements reflects the persistence of misinformation. The findings suggest that public health campaigns should directly address and dispel these misconceptions, as residual doubts about the virus's origin and severity may contribute to vaccine hesitancy. Clear and consistent messaging from trusted sources, including health professionals and community leaders, could improve overall knowledge and reduce skepticism [ 74 , 80 ]. The data on preventive measures demonstrate a high level of awareness, with most respondents recognizing the importance of social distancing, hand hygiene, and face masks in preventing COVID-19 transmission. Despite this, there was some hesitancy toward vaccination, possibly due to conflicting beliefs about the effectiveness of alternative measures, such as local herbs. A significant portion of respondents expressed disagreement or uncertainty about using supplements and local herbs as preventive measures, indicating that while these alternatives are known, they are not universally trusted as viable solutions to COVID-19 prevention. The low endorsement of supplements and herbs suggests that respondents may already lean toward scientifically validated preventive measures, presenting an opportunity to further encourage vaccination as a complement to these practices. Lastly, knowledge of vaccine types was varied, with viral vector vaccines being the most commonly known. This may reflect the availability or promotion of specific vaccine brands within the region. Nonetheless, a notable portion of respondents remained uninformed about available vaccines, indicating an informational gap that needs to be addressed. Public health interventions should prioritize education about the different types of vaccines, emphasizing their safety and efficacy, to combat misconceptions that may arise from a lack of knowledge. The findings in Table 8 emphasize the necessity of addressing vaccine hesitancy through targeted education, outreach, and accessibility efforts. Increasing awareness about the safety and effectiveness of various vaccine types, especially mRNA vaccines and viral vector vaccines, could help improve uptake. Additionally, understanding the specific barriers faced by those unwilling to get vaccinated, and providing culturally and contextually appropriate responses to their concerns, would be crucial steps in boosting overall vaccination rates in Benue State [ 21 , 41 , 81 – 85 ]. In summary, the study highlights several social, economic, and informational factors that influence COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. While sociodemographic variables such as age, tribe, and religion do not appear to be significant determinants, gender, marital status, occupation, and income level have a meaningful impact on vaccine attitudes. Furthermore, the high prevalence of misinformation underscores the need for accurate, accessible information to foster informed decision-making. The findings also reveal a broad acceptance of preventive practices like hand hygiene and mask-wearing, suggesting that vaccine uptake campaigns could build upon existing awareness to encourage comprehensive COVID-19 prevention strategies in Benue State. Conclusion The findings underscore significant challenges in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and distribution within Benue State, Nigeria. With nearly 80% of respondents remaining unvaccinated and a slight majority of them expressing reluctance to receive a vaccine if available, it is clear that vaccine hesitancy and accessibility issues are prominent. The prevalence of viral vector-based vaccines among those vaccinated suggests a reliance on certain types over others, potentially due to availability or public perception. Addressing this hesitancy requires tailored interventions focused on increasing awareness about vaccine safety, effectiveness, and potential side effects, especially concerning newer technologies like mRNA vaccines. Collaborative efforts involving public health organizations, community leaders, and healthcare providers could be instrumental in reshaping perceptions and facilitating greater acceptance. By mitigating fears, improving access, and enhancing communication strategies, public health efforts can foster a more positive response to COVID-19 vaccination, ultimately contributing to higher immunization rates and community protection. Limitation of the Study The study presents several limitations that warrant consideration when interpreting the findings. Firstly, while the sample size of 336 respondents provides a substantial dataset, it may not fully represent the diverse population of Benue State. Variations in socio-economic status, geographic location, and access to healthcare could significantly influence vaccine knowledge and acceptance, thus affecting the generalizability of the results. Additionally, the reliance on self-reported data introduces the possibility of response bias, where participants may provide socially desirable answers that could lead to an overestimation of their awareness and acceptance levels regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. The cross-sectional design of the study limits the establishment of causal relationships between demographic variables and vaccine acceptance, suggesting a need for longitudinal studies to explore changes in attitudes over time. Furthermore, the cultural beliefs and practices surrounding health and vaccination among the various tribes in Benue State may not have been adequately captured, potentially obscuring important influences on vaccine acceptance. The study’s focus on COVID-19 vaccination, while timely, could overshadow broader vaccination strategies. Additionally, the assessment of knowledge was somewhat limited, relying on a few questions that may not encompass the full spectrum of understanding. As the pandemic evolves, attitudes toward vaccination may also shift, highlighting the temporal context of the study's findings. Declarations Author Contribution All authors participated in the design of the questionnaire, running the statistical analysis, data interpretation, writing most parts of the manuscript, drafting, and preparing the manuscript for submission. All authors contributed to the collection of data, entry of data, review of the literature, and statistical analysis. All authors revised all the statistical analyses and conceptualized the study design. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Acknowledgement The authors acknowledge and thank all participants involved in the study Availability of data and materials The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to privacy considerations of the participants but are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. 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Moore R, Purvis RS, Hallgren E, et al. Motivations to Vaccinate Among Hesitant Adopters of the COVID-19 Vaccine. J Community Health. 2022;47(2):237–45. 10.1007/s10900-021-01037-5 . Lip A, Pateman M, Fullerton MM, et al. Vaccine hesitancy educational tools for healthcare providers and trainees: A scoping review. Vaccine. 2023;41(1):23–35. 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.09.093 . MacDonald NE, SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy: Definition, scope and determinants. Vaccine. 2015;33(34):4161–4. 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.04.036 . Khairat S, Zou B, Adler-Milstein J. Factors and reasons associated with low COVID-19 vaccine uptake among highly hesitant communities in the US. Am J Infect Control. 2022;50(3):262–7. 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.12.013 . Kricorian K, Civen R, Equils O. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: misinformation and perceptions of vaccine safety. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2022;18(1):1950504. 10.1080/21645515.2021.1950504 . Hayes KN, Harris DA, Zullo AR, et al. Racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 booster vaccination among U.S. older adults differ by geographic region and Medicare enrollment. Front Public Health. 2023;11. 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1243958 . Ben-Umeh KC, Kim J. Income disparities in COVID-19 vaccine and booster uptake in the United States: An analysis of cross-sectional data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. PLoS ONE. 2024;19(2). 10.1371/journal.pone.0298825 . Lopez L, Hart LH, Katz MH. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Related to COVID-19. JAMA. 2021;325(8):719–20. 10.1001/jama.2020.26443 . Nguyen KH, Nguyen K, Corlin L, et al. Changes in COVID-19 vaccination receipt and intention to vaccinate by socioeconomic characteristics and geographic area, United States, January 6—March 29, 2021. Ann Med. 2021;53(1):1419–28. 10.1080/07853890.2021.1957998 . Nguyen KH, Anneser E, Toppo A, et al. Disparities in national and state estimates of COVID-19 vaccination receipt and intent to vaccinate by race/ethnicity, income, and age group among adults ≥ 18 years, United States. Vaccine. 2022;40(1):107–13. Ahiakpa JK, Cosmas NT, Anyiam FE, et al. COVID-19 vaccines uptake: Public knowledge, awareness, perception and acceptance among adult Africans. PLoS ONE. 2022;17(6). 10.1371/journal.pone.0268230 . Wiysonge CS, Ndwandwe D, Ryan J, Jaca A, Batouré O, Anya BPM, Cooper S. (2021): Vaccine hesitancy in the era of COVID-19: could lessons from the past help in divining the future? Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics, 10.1080/21645515.2021.1893062 Larson H, Jarrett C, Eckersberger E, Smith D, Paterson P. Understanding vaccine hesitancy around vaccines and vaccination from a global perspective: a systematic review of published literature, 2007–2012. Vaccine. 2014;32(19):2150–9. WHO. An ad hoc WHO technical consultation managing the COVID-19 infodemic: call for action. Geneva (Switzerland): World Health Organization. 2020 April 7–8. 2020. Licence: CC BY- NC-SA 3.0 IGO. 2020. [accessed 2021 September 20]. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240010314 Wilson SL, Wiysonge C. (2020). Social media and vaccine hesitancy. BMJ Global Health. 2020;5(10):e004206. 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004206 WHO. World Health Organization Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard. Geneva (Switzerland): World Health Organization [accessed 2021 September 21]. https://covid19.who.int/ Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 26 Apr, 2025 Read the published version in Discover Public Health → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 13 Dec, 2024 Reviews received at journal 12 Dec, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 11 Dec, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Dec, 2024 Reviews received at journal 24 Nov, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 18 Nov, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 18 Nov, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 14 Nov, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 13 Nov, 2024 First submitted to journal 31 Oct, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5368577","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":382164255,"identity":"7ee2c225-7793-471d-8b22-410d78d4a5d1","order_by":0,"name":"Samuel Olusegun Itodo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Samuel","middleName":"Olusegun","lastName":"Itodo","suffix":""},{"id":382164256,"identity":"e92a0015-44d1-45a6-9b1f-00aed2d3d77a","order_by":1,"name":"Stephen Olaide Aremu","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA6klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDCCA3AWD+MDEMlHrBYJoGJmA5AWNlK0sEmAWAS18N0+wPi5oqKujl+691jl1xw7GTYG5oePbuDRInkugVnyzJnDEpJzzqXdlt2WDHQYm7FxDh4tBmeA2hrbDkgY3Mgxuy25jRmohYdNmoAW5p+N/+ok7IFaiiW31ROlhU2ysYFZwkAix4zx47bDhLVInmFss2w4dlhyxp0zxtKM247zsDET8AvfGebDNxtq6vj5Z/cYfvy5rdqen7354WN8WhgYGBsgNDBSmHlADGa8ypEBUAvjD6JVj4JRMApGwUgCALXdQvh9adVZAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Global Health and Infectious Disease Control Institute, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Stephen","middleName":"Olaide","lastName":"Aremu","suffix":""},{"id":382164257,"identity":"a0a8a43b-3140-49a1-bfab-af2b9a351ee8","order_by":2,"name":"Jeremiah John Oloche","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria.","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jeremiah","middleName":"John","lastName":"Oloche","suffix":""},{"id":382164258,"identity":"daa55c49-fffd-4edb-8004-e7b756e5e5d1","order_by":3,"name":"Samuel Ali Agada","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Samuel","middleName":"Ali","lastName":"Agada","suffix":""},{"id":382164259,"identity":"17ec2cad-d0f3-4b42-8252-3e5d4ccc52ab","order_by":4,"name":"Edwin Inalegwu Alonyenu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Edwin","middleName":"Inalegwu","lastName":"Alonyenu","suffix":""},{"id":382164260,"identity":"634f330f-746e-41e9-8470-2ef32ccf007e","order_by":5,"name":"Miracle Chekwube Itodo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Nephrology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Miracle","middleName":"Chekwube","lastName":"Itodo","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-10-31 17:53:12","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5368577/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5368577/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00597-4","type":"published","date":"2025-04-26T15:58:16+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":70644631,"identity":"975b6c0e-751e-49de-aa1c-a2ae85b052a0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-12-05 08:05:51","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":32018,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTribe distribution of the Respondents\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5368577/v1/08d3df56d6ad6a0d3518aa8a.png"},{"id":70644627,"identity":"1c71dba3-d79a-49e4-bd73-fe0f4543e3ec","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-12-05 08:05:51","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":17751,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eLegend not included with this version\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5368577/v1/996f2f8f53cc9b0b89893238.png"},{"id":70645667,"identity":"44dd0580-a66d-4b0a-9a1e-d07d78dead0b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-12-05 08:13:58","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":43257,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMonthly earning distribution\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5368577/v1/0626685724eeef98e4d8aa7a.png"},{"id":70644629,"identity":"33e267c6-ae02-4374-a0cc-2e9266c1527e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-12-05 08:05:51","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":68534,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOVID-19 vaccines rejection distribution\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5368577/v1/a1247ee7439e86eb12cd861c.png"},{"id":70645665,"identity":"53fa0c94-762c-4d7d-b9cb-bc90b9b4b866","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-12-05 08:13:51","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":64334,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eA bar chart of distribution of vaccine-type received\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5368577/v1/dec0b11b762ad16cbe0c164a.png"},{"id":81570721,"identity":"62c56ec2-f7c4-4a8c-8932-a811e12b26d6","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-28 16:13:52","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2711870,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5368577/v1/2253ba89-7dca-4a5e-b047-c859f9a68a7e.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCovid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Urban Healthcare Workers And Non-Healthcare Workers in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe COVID-19 pandemic has presented the world with a set of challenges unparalleled in modern times, profoundly affecting health, economic stability, and social well-being on a global scale [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR2 CR3\" citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. The virus has led to millions of infections and an overwhelming number of deaths worldwide, testing the limits of healthcare systems and exposing deep-rooted vulnerabilities in healthcare infrastructure and public health readiness [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. The rapid and widespread transmission of the virus placed immense strain on hospitals and clinics, leading to shortages in essential medical supplies and healthcare personnel [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR8 CR9 CR10\" citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]. The socioeconomic effects have been similarly far-reaching, disrupting global trade, causing significant job losses, and exacerbating inequalities, with marginalized communities bearing the brunt of both the virus and the economic downturn it triggered [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. Moreover, the pandemic revealed critical gaps in health communication, disease prevention, and emergency response, underscoring the need for resilient public health systems capable of addressing crises effectively [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe development and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines marked a turning point in the fight against the pandemic, offering a viable path to controlling viral spread and protecting public health [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]. Vaccines, by preventing severe illness and death, have played a central role in easing the burden on healthcare systems, thereby allowing societies to gradually return to normalcy [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]. Consequently, many countries rapidly launched mass vaccination campaigns aimed at reaching herd immunity. However, the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines has not been uniform, varying widely across countries and even within communities [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]. These variations are largely attributed to a combination of logistical challenges, such as vaccine availability and distribution, as well as sociocultural factors like trust in healthcare authorities, religious beliefs, and the perceived risks versus benefits of vaccination [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR22 CR23\" citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e]. Additionally, public opinion on vaccines has been shaped by cultural beliefs and by the presence of misinformation and conspiracy theories, which have contributed to vaccine hesitancy in many areas, particularly in countries where historical distrust in health systems exists [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR26 CR27 CR28 CR29 CR30 CR31 CR32 CR33 CR34 CR35 CR36 CR37\" citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn Nigeria, the landscape of vaccine acceptance reflects these complex dynamics. As in many countries, the Nigerian government has been working to provide COVID-19 vaccines to its citizens and ensure that the public has accurate information on vaccine benefits [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e]. However, vaccine uptake in Nigeria has faced significant obstacles, including misinformation and fears surrounding vaccine safety [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e]. Nigeria has a history of vaccine hesitancy influenced by past events, such as the polio vaccine boycott in certain regions, which was driven by concerns over the vaccine's safety and origins [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR40 CR41\" citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e42\u003c/span\u003e]. These past events, coupled with the rapid pace at which COVID-19 vaccines were developed, have raised skepticism among some Nigerians, further compounded by religious and cultural beliefs that influence health-related decisions. Consequently, vaccination campaigns in Nigeria have encountered varying levels of success, with some communities exhibiting high acceptance and others showing considerable resistance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBenue State serves as a microcosm of these broader national and international trends, displaying a range of responses toward COVID-19 vaccination despite concerted efforts by local authorities to improve vaccine access [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e45\u003c/span\u003e]. Public opinion on vaccination in Benue State is mixed, with some individuals willing to receive the vaccine and others demonstrating hesitancy due to fears about vaccine side effects, mistrust in the health system, and religious or cultural influences. Understanding the extent of vaccine acceptance in Benue State and identifying the factors that shape individual choices can offer crucial insights for improving public health interventions and enhancing the effectiveness of vaccination efforts. Additionally, identifying the types of vaccines that residents are most likely to accept may provide practical guidance for future campaigns, allowing health authorities to prioritize vaccines that align with public preferences.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study is designed to assess COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Benue State, with an emphasis on understanding which types of vaccines are preferred by the population. By evaluating the proportion of individuals who have received the vaccine, exploring the reasons for vaccine hesitancy, and identifying the types of vaccines that individuals are open to receiving, this research aims to contribute to a body of knowledge that can assist in developing targeted vaccination strategies. Specifically, the study seeks to achieve the following objectives: Firstly, to determine the proportion of individuals in Benue State who have received a COVID-19 vaccine since the vaccines were introduced, secondly, to identify the specific types of COVID-19 vaccines administered to those who have been vaccinated, thirdly, to evaluate the willingness of unvaccinated individuals to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if it were readily available to them, and finally, to analyze demographic and contextual factors that influence vaccine acceptance and preferences among residents of Benue State.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe findings from this study will provide valuable insights into public perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination in Benue State, helping health authorities and policymakers design more effective, culturally sensitive, and evidence-based approaches to vaccination outreach. This information can be instrumental in addressing the gaps in vaccine coverage, thereby contributing to efforts to achieve widespread immunity and to mitigate the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria and similar settings.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methodology","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eResearch Design\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed to assess the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and preferred vaccine types among residents of Benue State. This design was selected because it allows for the collection of data at a single point in time to examine the prevalence of vaccine acceptance, reasons for acceptance or hesitancy, and the types of vaccines preferred by the population. A quantitative approach was used to enable statistical analysis, providing a robust understanding of vaccine acceptance trends and factors influencing preferences.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStudy Area\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study was conducted in Benue State, located in the North Central region of Nigeria. Benue State has a population of approximately 5.7\u0026nbsp;million people, with diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The state is largely rural, with agriculture as the primary occupation for most residents. Health infrastructure varies across the state, with urban areas better served compared to rural areas. The COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in Benue have been impacted by logistical challenges, varying levels of vaccine availability, and mixed responses from the public, making it a relevant location for studying vaccine acceptance and preferences.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStudy Population\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study population consisted of adults aged 18 years and above residing in Benue State. This group was chosen as they represent the primary target population for COVID-19 vaccination programs. The inclusion criteria required participants to be permanent residents of Benue State and to be aware of the COVID-19 vaccination program implemented in the state. The study aimed to capture a broad range of demographic and socioeconomic groups to ensure a comprehensive understanding of vaccine acceptance across different segments of the population.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe sample size for this study was determined using Cochran\u0026rsquo;s formula, which is suitable for large populations. This approach allowed us to estimate the minimum number of respondents needed to obtain statistically reliable results. Cochran\u0026rsquo;s formula is represented as:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003en = {Z^2 \u0026times; p \u0026times; (1\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;p) }/d^2 =\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ewhere:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003en is the required sample size,\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eZ is the Z-score associated with a 95% confidence level, which is 1.96,\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003ep is the estimated proportion of vaccine acceptance in the population, assumed to be 50% due to a lack of precise data specific to this region,\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003ed is the margin of error, set at 5% for this study.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/ul\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSubstituting these values into the formula:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003en\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.962\u0026times;0.5 \u0026times; (1\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.5) / 0.05^2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.84.16\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis calculation yielded a sample size of approximately 384 respondents. However, due to logistical and budgetary constraints, a final sample size of 336 respondents was selected. Despite the reduction, this sample size was deemed sufficient to maintain the statistical power needed to detect meaningful patterns and relationships in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and preferences among the population.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSampling Technique\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA multi-stage sampling technique was utilized to select the respondents. In the first stage, local government areas (LGAs) were stratified by urban and rural status to ensure representation from both types of areas. From each stratum, specific LGAs were randomly selected. In the second stage, communities within each LGA were randomly selected. Finally, households within each selected community were systematically sampled, and one adult respondent per household was chosen to participate. This approach minimized selection bias and ensured that the sample was representative of the wider population of Benue State.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eData Collection Methods\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData collection was conducted using structured questionnaires administered through face-to-face interviews by trained research assistants. This method was chosen to ensure high response rates, especially given the low literacy levels in some rural areas, and to allow respondents to seek clarification if they had questions about specific items. The questionnaire included sections on demographic information, COVID-19 vaccination status, reasons for vaccine acceptance or hesitancy, and preferences for different types of COVID-19 vaccines.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eResearch Instrument\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe questionnaire used in this study was designed based on a comprehensive review of the literature on vaccine acceptance and COVID-19 vaccination. It was structured into four main sections:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003col\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eDemographics\u003c/b\u003e: Included questions on age, gender, educational level, employment status, and location (urban or rural).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eVaccination Status\u003c/b\u003e: Asked respondents if they had received any COVID-19 vaccine and, if so, which type.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eVaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy\u003c/b\u003e: Assessed willingness to receive a vaccine if unvaccinated and reasons for acceptance or refusal.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eVaccine Preferences\u003c/b\u003e: For those vaccinated, included questions on the type of vaccine received and reasons for preferring certain vaccine types.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/span\u003e \u003c/ol\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eValidity and Reliability\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo ensure validity, the questionnaire was reviewed by experts in public health and epidemiology for content and face validity, ensuring that the items were relevant, clear, and capable of capturing the intended information. A pilot test was conducted with 30 respondents outside the study area to assess the clarity and relevance of the questions. Based on feedback from the pilot, minor modifications were made to improve the clarity and structure of the questionnaire.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReliability was assessed using Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s alpha for the questions related to vaccine acceptance and hesitancy, yielding an alpha coefficient of 0.78, which indicated an acceptable level of internal consistency.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eData Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eData were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and means, were calculated to describe the demographic characteristics of the respondents, their vaccination status, and their preferences for different vaccine types. Cross-tabulations and chi-square tests were used to assess associations between demographic variables (such as age, gender, education, and urban/rural location) and vaccine acceptance.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLogistic regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of vaccine acceptance, focusing on variables such as educational level, employment status, and geographic location. The adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported for significant predictors, offering insights into the likelihood of vaccine acceptance across different subgroups.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eEthical Considerations\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eEthical approval\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003e for this study was obtained from the Benue State Ministry of Health\u0026rsquo;s Research Ethics Committee. Written informed consent was obtained from all respondents before participation, with assurance that their participation was voluntary and that they could withdraw at any time without consequence. Respondents were informed about the purpose of the study, and confidentiality was strictly maintained throughout the data collection and analysis process. Identifiable information was not collected, and data were stored securely, accessible only to the research team.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eDemography of respondents\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study was a state wide survey on the knowledge and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine in the three senatorial districts (namely zone A, B, and zone C) of Benue State North central Nigeria (Table\u0026nbsp;1). About 132(39.3%) were from zone C. The chi squared test showed that there was a significant relationship between the study sites and the reception of COVID-19 vaccine \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;11.130 (df\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.004). The average age of those who are hesitant to COVID-19 vaccine is 43.5 years, and majority of them were in the age bracket of 39-48years 112(33.3%). Age as social demographic variables showed no significant relationship between age and the reception of COVID-19 vaccine \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;336 (df\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.954). There is a significant relationship between gender and the reception of COVID-19 vaccine \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5.529 (df\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.019). Most of the respondents reported their tribe to be Tiv 170(50.6%), a combination of zones A and B ((Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The tribe of the respondent has no significant relationship with reception of COVID \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;19 vaccine \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5.517 (df\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;6, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.479). Religion has no significant relationship with reception of COVID-19 vaccine \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u003cem\u003e=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;.049 (df\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.849). The data shows that a significant proportion of the respondents in this study practice Christianity 332(98.8%), while 4(1.2%) practice Islam. Most of the respondents marital appear to be single 216(64.3%) with a significant number of them married 110(32.7%). There was a significant relation between marital status and the reception of COVID-19 vaccine \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;17.464 (df\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1.0\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSOCIAL DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTIC\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;336)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercent (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStudy sites\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eZone A\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.130\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.004\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eZone B\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e125\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eZone C\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e132\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e18\u0026ndash;28\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e52\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.336\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.954\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e29\u0026ndash;38\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e39\u0026ndash;48\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e112\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e49\u0026ndash;58\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e88\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMale\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e167\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.529\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.019\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFemale\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e169\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTribe\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTiv\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e170\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.517\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.479\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIdoma\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e109\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIgede\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHausa\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eYoruba\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIgbo\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOthers\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eReligion\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChristianity\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e332\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e98.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.049\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.842\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIslam\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarital status\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarried\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e110\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17.464\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSingle\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e216\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e64.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeparated\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWidow(er)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eMarital, occupational, educational and income status distribution of respondents\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe religious affiliations of the participants were 98.8% were Christians and 1.2% non-Christians. On the contrary, the marital status significantly (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) varied among participants with approximately 64.3% are single. A smaller yet noteworthy segment, constituting 32.7%, while 2.4% are widows and widower and 0.6% navigates the complexities of separated. This distribution highlights the prevailing marital dynamics within the study population under scrutiny (Fig.\u0026nbsp;2).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable 2 shows the occupation distribution of the respondents. Most of the respondents reported their occupation to be student 181(53.9%), followed by a substantial number who are civil servants 83(24.7%) and next are public servants 22(6.5%). Those who are unemployed are 3(0.9%). There is a statistically significant relationship with occupation and the reception of COVID-19 vaccine.\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;X\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/em\u003e=31.261(df=8, P=0.000). Majority of those captured in the study group are health workers 186(55.4%) however, 150(44.6%) are non-health workers. There is a statistically significant relationship between the study group and prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine \u003cem\u003eX\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/em\u003e=7.093(df=1, P=0.008).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong the category of health workers most of the respondent are pharmacist 125(37.2%) and next to them are nurses 49(14.6%) there is no statistically significant relationship between category of health workers and the reception of COVID-19 vaccine \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.972(df\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.0704).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAlso, most of them have primary school as their highest level of education, however, 89(26.5%) attended Secondary school while the post graduate are 42(12.5%). There is no statistically significant relationship between levels of education and the reception of COVID-19 vaccine \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.598(df\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.331).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study further unravel that the highest respondents were those that earn nothing 136(40.5%) and for those who earns the highest respondent earns\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;30,000 naira 98(29.2%). There is a statistically significant relationship between monthly income in naira and reception of COVID-19 vaccine \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;17.003(df\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.02).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA significant (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) 55.4% of individuals have pursued graduate or tertiary education, reflecting a commitment to advanced learning. Those with secondary education 26.5% of the sample population, 12.5% postgraduate and 4.8 a modest 4.8% hold primary qualifications. In addition data on the monthly income levels is shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e. A significantly low (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) percentage of the sample population, 17.8% earn\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;190,000, while 12.5% (30,000\u0026ndash;190,000), 29.2% (\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;30,000). Interestingly, a significant 40.5% indicated that they have no monthly earning (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOccupational characteristics of respondents\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;336)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercent (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOccupation\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCivil servant\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31.261\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.000\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarmer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePublic servant\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeacher\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrader\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSelf employed\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnemployed\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStudy group\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHealth workers\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e186\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.093\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.008\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNon health worker\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e150\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCategory of health care worker\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCommunity health extension worker\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.972\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.0704\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoctor\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedical laboratory scientist\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNurse\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePharmacist\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e125\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOthers\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e125\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLevel of education\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePost graduate\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.598\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.331\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrimary\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e186\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSecondary\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTertiary\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNone\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAssessment of the level of knowledge of COVID 19 and vaccination\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe result of the level knowledge of COVID-19 and vaccine by the respondent is shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e. When asked if COVID-19 is a hoax? A significant (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) 49.1% responded strongly disagree, 27.1% disagree, 17.0% agree while 6.8%strongly agree. To further probe the initial response, the researcher questioned if COVID-19 is a human invention, 32.1% agree, 31.5% disagree, 21.4% strongly disagree and 14.9% strongly agree. To ascertain the respondents\u0026rsquo; conviction of the disease and deaths from COVID \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;19, 37.8% of the respondents agree that COVID-19 is real and causes severe disease or death, 36.3% strongly agree, 18.5% disagree and 7.4% strongly disagree. Data collected shows that 34.2% of the study population strongly disagree that they don\u0026rsquo;t have anything to believe about COVID-19 (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKnowledge about covid-19 and vaccine\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCovid-19 is a hoax\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;336\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercentage %\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e91\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e165\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCovid-19 is an invention of man\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e108\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCovid-19 is real and causes severe disease or death\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e127\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e122\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e115\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eI am not sure of what to believe about covid-19\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e115\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec16\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eExpression on COVID \u0026ndash; 19 preventive measures\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eDue to the variability of responses obtained from the respondents on the existence of COVID-19, investigating the expression of the knowledge on preventive measures was necessary. Those that strongly agree, disagree or strongly disagree that social distances is one the preventive measures were 39.6%, 13,7% and 8.3% respectively, of the respondents (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). A great number of respondents, 47.3% who strongly agree and 35.4% who agree that hand hygiene can prevent COVID-19 infection, while, 12.2% disagree and 5.1% strongly disagree. 45.2% strongly agree that wearing of facemask can prevent it, 33.6% agree, 17.3% disagree and few respondents of 3.9% strongly disagree.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the choice of vaccines or local herbs, 43.2% agree to it, 29.8% strongly agree, 17.9% disagree and 9.2% strongly agree that vaccines are preventive measures. Surprisingly, 50.3% strongly disagree, 30.4% disagree, 15.5% agree and 3.9% strongly agree to the use of local herb for the prevention of the disease. Of the study population, 32.1% strongly disagree that taking of supplement can play a good role in the disease prevention, 30.7% disagree, 29.8% agree while 7.4% strongly agree. In response to the availability of a specific treatment of COVID-19, 35.1% disagree, 32.1% agree while 21.7% strongly disagree and 11.0% strongly agree to that assertion.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn evaluation of the knowledge of the respondents on available COVID-19 vaccines, they were asked if they know any available COVID-19 vaccine? 60.7% of the respondents said NO while 39.3% responded Yes. Those who said yes in regards to knowing available resource identified the type they know. viral vector base vaccine (e.g Johnson and Johnson, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, convidicia) is the well-known vaccine with a popularity of 48.5%, next to it is the Recombinant vaccines (Sanofi/GSK, Novavax) with 10.7%, live attenuated vaccines has 10.0%, then mRNA vaccine (e.g pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna) and peptide vaccine (EpiVacCorona) both having 7.4% each. While 3.9% only knows killed vaccines (sino Vac, Bharat Biotech, CoviVac, sinopharm) and 16.1% were not applicable because they were naive about the vaccine (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKnowledge of preventive measures against COVID-19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;336)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercent (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSocial distancing\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e129\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e133\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHand hygiene\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e119\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e159\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWearing of facemask\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e113\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e58\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e152\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVaccine\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e145\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e43.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLocal herbs\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e52\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e102\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e169\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTaking supplements\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e103\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e108\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSome specific medication\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e108\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e118\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e73\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDo you know any available covid-19 vaccines\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e132\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e204\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhich of the following type of covid-19 vaccines do you know\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ekilled vaccines (sino Vac, Bharat Biotech, CoviVac, sinopharm).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003elive attenuated vaccines.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003emRNA vaccine (e.g pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003epeptide vaccine (EpiVacCorona).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecombinant vaccines (Sanofi/GSK, Novavax).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eViral vector base vaccine (e.g Johnson and Johnson, Oxford/astraZeneca, Sputnik V, convidicia).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e148\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot applicable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhere do you get most of your information on covid-19 pandemic and vaccine?\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eelectronic media (television, radio)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e160\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efriends/colleagues\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003egovernment, international and other health authorities\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003emedical journals or literature\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eprint media (newspaper, magazines)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003esocial media\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec17\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eDemographic presentation of vaccine-type rejection\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eOn presentation of available COVID-19 vaccines to the respondents with equal opportunity to make choices of the vaccine type they would accept/reject. 21.4% rejected the viral vector based vaccine (e.g Johnson and Johnson, Oxford/astraZeneca, Sputnik V, convidicia), 8.0% rejected killed vaccines (sino Vac, Bharat Biotech, CoviVac, sinopharm), 6.5% live attenuated vaccine, peptide vaccine (EpiVacCorona) 3.9% said they would rather not choose mRNA vaccine (e.g pFizer/BioNTech, Moderna) while 2.1% rejected Recombinant vaccines (Sanofi/GSK, Novavax). The data on vaccine-type rejection is shown (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec18\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003ePerceived susceptible to COVID-19 risk and confidence on COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eQuestionnaires were administered to the respondents during the wave of COVID-19 pandemic to investigate their perception on susceptibility to the pathogen and confidence on the vaccines being distributed. A significant percentage of the respondents (47.6%) claimed that their source of information on the disease was the electronic media; television and radio. The contribution of social media to the dissemination of information on COVID-19 was also significantly higher (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) compared to other sources including printed media (12.2%), Health authorities and Government sources (7.7%) and medical journals (4.5%). Surprisingly, only 2.4% of the total respondents received information on COVID-19 virus and vaccine from colleagues and friends.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study probed the respondents on their level of awareness of transmissibility of the virus relative to chances of being infected with the wave of the pandemic in the a few months time, 61.9% strongly disagree, 24.7% disagree, 9.5% agree and 3.9% strongly agree. We further investigated whether the respondents were anxious or worried on the likelihood of infected with COVID-19. A statistically significant percentage, 41.9%% strongly disagree compared to 8.9% that strongly agree that they were anxious that they could be infected (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab6\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePerceived susceptibility to COVID-19 infection\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;336\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercent (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThere is a high chance that I will be infected with covid-19 in the next few months\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e208\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e61.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eI am worried about the likelihood of getting covid-19\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e74\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e165\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHaving a covid-19 is currently a possibility for me\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e179\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe perception of the respondents on benefit of COVID-19 is shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e. A significant proportion (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), 41.7% and 49.1% of the respondents agree that the vaccination is good and makes them less anxious of being infected COVID-19 and decreases chances of being infected, respectively. However, 12.2% and 6.0% strongly disagree that vaccination against COVID-19 decreased their anxiety of being infected and that the vaccination is beneficial, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab7\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 6\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRespondents perception on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;336)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVaccination is good because it makes people worried about catching covid-19\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e140\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVaccination decreases a person chance of getting covid-19\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e165\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e52\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e99\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVaccination decreases a person chance of getting severe forms of covid-19\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e161\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e92\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVaccination decreases a person chance of getting covid-19 if he or has it before.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e141\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e93\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn assessment of the perceived barriers to get vaccination was carried out and shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab8\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e. On the basis of past experience and interference with normal activities due possible side effect of COVID-19 vaccination, the proportion of the respondents (35.4%) that agree was not significantly different (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) compared to 28.6% that disagree. Respondents\u0026rsquo; expression of not getting compensated in the event of major adverse effects associated with vaccination. A significant proportion of 38.7% strongly agree, compared to 7.7% disagree with the idea that lack of compensation is a barrier to getting vaccination. Other barriers include poor government effort in trying to curb the menace the spread of virus, negative past experience of taking immunization, cultural and religious beliefs, low level of health care worker training in the administration the COVID-19 vaccine and management of possible adverse effects (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab8\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab8\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 7\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePerceived barriers to getting of vaccination and effects of past experience\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency (=\u0026thinsp;336)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercent (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI am worried about the possible side effect of covid-19 vaccination would interfere with my usual activities\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e119\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e96\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e52\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eI am concerned if covid-19 vaccines truly protect a person from getting the disease\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e151\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eI am concerned I may not get compensation if the side effect of taking the covid-19 vaccine\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e126\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e102\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eI don\u0026rsquo;t trust the government approach to covid-19 pandemic\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e120\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e130\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMy experience with previous immunization activities will affect my decision or otherwise to covid-19 vaccines\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e109\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e127\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eI am concerned about the low level of health workers training giving the vaccine\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e132\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMy faith tells me I am protected by spiritual powers and would not need to take such vaccine\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e109\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMy culture/tradition does not allow me to take such vaccines\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e109\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e177\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e52.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMy family and friends will determine if I will take the vaccine\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e104\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly agree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly disagree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e147\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e43.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe response of the study population to the world wide campaign on vaccination against COVID-19 is shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e. The proportion of the population under investigation that received COVID-19 vaccine was 20.5% which was significant low (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) compared 79.5% that did not receive the vaccine.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe percentage of the respondent that received the different vaccine type is shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab9\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e. 12.5% of the respondents received viral vector base vaccine (e.g Johnson and Johnson,Oxford/ AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, convidicea), 3.6% killed vaccines (sino Vac, Bharat Biotech, CoviVac, sinopharm), 3.3% mRNA vaccine (e.g Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna) while 0.6% respondent received live attenuated vaccines and Recombinant vaccines (Sanofi, GSK,Novavax) respectively and 79.5 were not applicable (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab9\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab9\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 8\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRespondents\u0026rsquo; acceptance choice of type of COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrequency (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;336)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePercentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHave you received covid-19 vaccine since it came to the state?\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e267\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIf yes, which type did you receive?\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKilled vaccines (sino Vac, Bharat Biotech, CoviVac, sinopharm)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLive attenuated vaccines\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003emRNA vaccine (e.g Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecombinant vaccines (Sanofi, GSK,Novavax)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eViral vector base vaccine (e.g Johnson and Johnson,Oxford/ AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, convidicea)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot applicable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e267\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIf no would you take the covid-19 vaccine if made available\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e156\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e180\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe results from Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab9\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e provide an in-depth look at respondents' choices regarding COVID-19 vaccine types and their acceptance levels in Benue State, Nigeria. Out of the 336 respondents, only 20.5% reported having received a COVID-19 vaccine, while a significant 79.5% had not. This high percentage of unvaccinated individuals highlights a considerable level of vaccine hesitancy or lack of access within the population.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor those who received the vaccine, the most common type administered was the viral vector-based vaccine (e.g., Johnson and Johnson, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Convidicea), accounting for 12.5% of respondents. The preference for or availability of viral vector vaccines could be due to their distribution in the region or perceptions of their effectiveness and safety compared to other types. Following this, killed (inactivated) vaccines, such as SinoVac, Bharat Biotech, CoviVac, and Sinopharm, were received by 3.6% of respondents, while mRNA vaccines, including Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, were received by 3.3%. This limited uptake of mRNA vaccines could reflect either distribution limitations in the region or preferences influenced by familiarity with other vaccine types. Only 0.6% of respondents reported receiving live attenuated or recombinant vaccines (such as those from Sanofi, GSK, and Novavax), indicating very limited exposure to these types within the population.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAmong those who had not yet received the vaccine, a split in willingness to accept it if made available was observed. Approximately 46.4% of unvaccinated respondents expressed willingness to receive the vaccine, whereas a slightly larger proportion, 53.6%, indicated they would not. This majority refusal rate underscores persistent hesitancy and possible concerns about the vaccine, including doubts about its safety, efficacy, or potential side effects.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussions","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe findings of this study on COVID-19 vaccine knowledge and acceptance among respondents in Benue State, Nigeria, offer a comprehensive understanding of sociodemographic characteristics and perceptions toward vaccination in the region. A significant portion of the respondents, particularly those from Zone C, demonstrated higher vaccine reception rates, as indicated by the statistically significant association between study sites and vaccine reception (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.004). This may suggest regional variations in awareness or accessibility that influence vaccine acceptance, possibly shaped by differences in public health outreach and information dissemination across zones [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e46\u003c/span\u003e]. Such regional disparities in vaccine acceptance highlight the need for targeted interventions, especially in areas with lower acceptance rates [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR47\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e47\u003c/span\u003e]. Effective public health outreach that addresses specific community concerns and builds trust can be instrumental in enhancing vaccine confidence, particularly in low- and middle-income regions where hesitancy may be linked to socioeconomic factors [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR49 CR50\" citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e48\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge, often cited as a predictor of vaccine hesitancy, showed no significant correlation with COVID-19 vaccine reception in this survey. This finding is intriguing given that the mean age of hesitant individuals was 43.5 years, mostly within the 39\u0026ndash;48 age range. Such results may imply that other factors outweigh age in shaping vaccine attitudes within this population, contrasting with previous studies highlighting age-related vaccine hesitancy trends [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e52\u003c/span\u003e]. On the other hand, gender did show a statistically significant relationship with vaccine reception, with a slight majority among female respondents\u0026mdash;a result consistent with existing research showing gender differences in health behaviors, including vaccine uptake, often tied to safety concerns and misinformation [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR54\" citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e53\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR55\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e55\u003c/span\u003e]. Such that incorporating gender-sensitive approaches in vaccine communication strategies could be beneficial [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR56\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e56\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR57\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e57\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe distribution of respondents across tribal and religious groups presents additional insights into sociocultural factors that may affect vaccine reception. The majority identified as Tiv, a group predominantly located in Zones A and B; however, tribal affiliation was not a significant factor in vaccine acceptance, suggesting that while cultural identity is a crucial aspect of the population, it does not significantly influence individual vaccination decisions. This aligns with studies suggesting that, although cultural factors play a role in shaping general attitudes, they may not always translate to vaccine hesitancy in predictable ways [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR58\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e58\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e59\u003c/span\u003e] religious affiliation did not play a significant role in vaccine acceptance, as nearly all respondents identified as Christians, supporting previous findings that show religion alone may not significantly impact vaccine acceptance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR60\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e60\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR61\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e61\u003c/span\u003e]. These findings reveal that demographic variables like ethnicity and religion may not pose substantial barriers to vaccine acceptance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR62\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e62\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR63\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e63\u003c/span\u003e]. However, targeted interventions may target cultural competency to ensure messages resonate across various community identities [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR64\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e64\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarital status emerged as a significant factor in vaccine acceptance, with single respondents showing higher hesitancy levels. Married individuals, who represented a substantial portion of the study population, showed a stronger inclination toward vaccine acceptance, potentially due to greater health consciousness and concern for family well-being among married respondents. Research has indicated that marital and family obligations can increase health motivation, aligning with our findings on vaccine reception [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR65\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e65\u003c/span\u003e]. This influence suggests that family-oriented messaging could enhance vaccine acceptance by emphasizing the protection of loved ones as a motivational factor [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR66\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e66\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOccupational status also proved to be significantly associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Most respondents were students, followed by civil servants and public servants. Notably, a higher proportion of health workers were vaccinated compared to non-health workers, indicating a likely correlation between medical knowledge and vaccine acceptance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e54\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR55\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e55\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR68 CR69\" citationid=\"CR67\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e67\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR70\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e70\u003c/span\u003e]. Although health workers, particularly pharmacists and nurses, formed a substantial segment of the study sample, no significant correlation emerged between specific healthcare roles and vaccine reception. This suggests that while healthcare professionals generally accept the vaccine, individual roles within the healthcare sector do not necessarily predict acceptance. Campaigns to increase vaccination rates among non-health workers could benefit from leveraging the positive reception observed among healthcare professionals, positioning them as advocates in public awareness efforts [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e52\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR57\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e57\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEducation levels among respondents revealed interesting trends, although there was no statistically significant association between educational attainment and vaccine acceptance. A large proportion of respondents had only primary-level education, with smaller segments having secondary or tertiary education. The prevalence of respondents with limited formal education highlights potential informational gaps that could hinder vaccine acceptance. Vaccine communication strategies must address these educational disparities by providing clear, accessible information about COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in local languages and simplified formats [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR72 CR73 CR74\" citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e71\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR75\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e75\u003c/span\u003e]. Additionally, income emerged as a significant factor, with a considerable portion of the respondents indicating no monthly earnings, a demographic particularly relevant to public health interventions [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR76\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e76\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR77\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e77\u003c/span\u003e]. Income disparity and economic hardship could impact vaccine attitudes, as lower-income individuals might prioritize immediate financial needs over health-related decisions, particularly if vaccine access is perceived as costly or inconvenient [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR78\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e78\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR79\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e79\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn examining COVID-19 knowledge and attitudes, many respondents disagreed with misinformation statements, such as the notion that COVID-19 is a hoax or a human invention. However, the fact that a significant proportion either agreed or were unsure about these statements reflects the persistence of misinformation. The findings suggest that public health campaigns should directly address and dispel these misconceptions, as residual doubts about the virus's origin and severity may contribute to vaccine hesitancy. Clear and consistent messaging from trusted sources, including health professionals and community leaders, could improve overall knowledge and reduce skepticism [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR74\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e74\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR80\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e80\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe data on preventive measures demonstrate a high level of awareness, with most respondents recognizing the importance of social distancing, hand hygiene, and face masks in preventing COVID-19 transmission. Despite this, there was some hesitancy toward vaccination, possibly due to conflicting beliefs about the effectiveness of alternative measures, such as local herbs. A significant portion of respondents expressed disagreement or uncertainty about using supplements and local herbs as preventive measures, indicating that while these alternatives are known, they are not universally trusted as viable solutions to COVID-19 prevention. The low endorsement of supplements and herbs suggests that respondents may already lean toward scientifically validated preventive measures, presenting an opportunity to further encourage vaccination as a complement to these practices.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLastly, knowledge of vaccine types was varied, with viral vector vaccines being the most commonly known. This may reflect the availability or promotion of specific vaccine brands within the region. Nonetheless, a notable portion of respondents remained uninformed about available vaccines, indicating an informational gap that needs to be addressed. Public health interventions should prioritize education about the different types of vaccines, emphasizing their safety and efficacy, to combat misconceptions that may arise from a lack of knowledge. The findings in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab9\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e emphasize the necessity of addressing vaccine hesitancy through targeted education, outreach, and accessibility efforts. Increasing awareness about the safety and effectiveness of various vaccine types, especially mRNA vaccines and viral vector vaccines, could help improve uptake. Additionally, understanding the specific barriers faced by those unwilling to get vaccinated, and providing culturally and contextually appropriate responses to their concerns, would be crucial steps in boosting overall vaccination rates in Benue State [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR82 CR83 CR84\" citationid=\"CR81\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e81\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR85\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e85\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn summary, the study highlights several social, economic, and informational factors that influence COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. While sociodemographic variables such as age, tribe, and religion do not appear to be significant determinants, gender, marital status, occupation, and income level have a meaningful impact on vaccine attitudes. Furthermore, the high prevalence of misinformation underscores the need for accurate, accessible information to foster informed decision-making. The findings also reveal a broad acceptance of preventive practices like hand hygiene and mask-wearing, suggesting that vaccine uptake campaigns could build upon existing awareness to encourage comprehensive COVID-19 prevention strategies in Benue State.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe findings underscore significant challenges in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and distribution within Benue State, Nigeria. With nearly 80% of respondents remaining unvaccinated and a slight majority of them expressing reluctance to receive a vaccine if available, it is clear that vaccine hesitancy and accessibility issues are prominent. The prevalence of viral vector-based vaccines among those vaccinated suggests a reliance on certain types over others, potentially due to availability or public perception.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAddressing this hesitancy requires tailored interventions focused on increasing awareness about vaccine safety, effectiveness, and potential side effects, especially concerning newer technologies like mRNA vaccines. Collaborative efforts involving public health organizations, community leaders, and healthcare providers could be instrumental in reshaping perceptions and facilitating greater acceptance. By mitigating fears, improving access, and enhancing communication strategies, public health efforts can foster a more positive response to COVID-19 vaccination, ultimately contributing to higher immunization rates and community protection.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec21\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eLimitation of the Study\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study presents several limitations that warrant consideration when interpreting the findings. Firstly, while the sample size of 336 respondents provides a substantial dataset, it may not fully represent the diverse population of Benue State. Variations in socio-economic status, geographic location, and access to healthcare could significantly influence vaccine knowledge and acceptance, thus affecting the generalizability of the results. Additionally, the reliance on self-reported data introduces the possibility of response bias, where participants may provide socially desirable answers that could lead to an overestimation of their awareness and acceptance levels regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe cross-sectional design of the study limits the establishment of causal relationships between demographic variables and vaccine acceptance, suggesting a need for longitudinal studies to explore changes in attitudes over time. Furthermore, the cultural beliefs and practices surrounding health and vaccination among the various tribes in Benue State may not have been adequately captured, potentially obscuring important influences on vaccine acceptance.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study\u0026rsquo;s focus on COVID-19 vaccination, while timely, could overshadow broader vaccination strategies. Additionally, the assessment of knowledge was somewhat limited, relying on a few questions that may not encompass the full spectrum of understanding. As the pandemic evolves, attitudes toward vaccination may also shift, highlighting the temporal context of the study's findings.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll authors participated in the design of the questionnaire, running the statistical analysis, data interpretation, writing most parts of the manuscript, drafting, and preparing the manuscript for submission. All authors contributed to the collection of data, entry of data, review of the literature, and statistical analysis. All authors revised all the statistical analyses and conceptualized the study design. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe authors acknowledge and thank all participants involved in the study\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to privacy considerations of the participants but are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNicola M, Alsafi Z, Sohrabi C, et al. The socio-economic implications of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19): A review. 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Geneva (Switzerland): World Health Organization [accessed 2021 September 21]. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://covid19.who.int/\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://covid19.who.int/\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-public-health","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Public Health](https://link.springer.com/journal/12982)","snPcode":"12982","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/12982/3","title":"Discover Public Health","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"COVID-19, vaccine acceptance, vaccination preferences, health education, vaccine hesitancy, public health","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5368577/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5368577/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eCoronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 and is believed to be transmitted through respiratory droplets and contacts. Currently, there is no approved COVID-19 treatment but vaccines have developed against the disease. Vaccine hesitancy, however, can limit the success of vaccination.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eObjective\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study investigated the knowledge of COVID-19 and apathetic behavior (hesitancy) towards vaccination among the mixed professional population of sub-urban dwellers in three senatorial districts of Benue State.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe research was a cross-sectional study involving self-administered questionnaire. The data generated was subjected to descriptive statistics and Chi-square. Statistical significance was placed at p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResult\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA total of 500 questionnaires were administered; however 336 respondents representing 67.2% returned questionnaires. There was no statistical difference (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) between health workers (55.4%) and non-health workers (44.6%). There exists an association between study sites, profession, and educational qualification, with knowledge of COVID-19 and accent to vaccination. A significant (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) 76.2% of acknowledge the existence and infectivity of COVID-19. Interestingly, 39.6% and 47.3% of the study population sanctioned social distancing and hand hygiene as COVID-19 preventive measures. Although 73.0% show knowledge of various COVID-19 vaccines and profess vaccination as a protective measure, however, 65.7% were unsure whether vaccination protects against the disease. Side effects from previous immunization and perceived inadequate knowledge of managing vaccination adverse effects were among the reasons for vaccine hesitancy.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eVaccination and preventive measures are top priorities in diseases with no approved treatment. An urgent increase in the level of advocacy and awareness of the disease is needed because of high vaccine hesitancy among health workers that constitute a significant proportion of the study population.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Urban Healthcare Workers And Non-Healthcare Workers in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-12-05 08:05:46","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5368577/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2024-12-13T15:47:16+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2024-12-12T17:04:16+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"221591124574401992587798659082098421983","date":"2024-12-11T08:02:01+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"287089271792576744280969854100947784187","date":"2024-12-09T21:30:54+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2024-11-24T11:03:31+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"146412901355110880626521115287492715068","date":"2024-11-18T06:40:47+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2024-11-18T06:16:06+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2024-11-14T07:45:18+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2024-11-13T06:09:55+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Public Health","date":"2024-10-31T17:42:52+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-public-health","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Public Health](https://link.springer.com/journal/12982)","snPcode":"12982","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/12982/3","title":"Discover Public Health","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"1cac23c0-b983-4257-8bf8-08ef1dfc3196","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 5th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-04-28T16:12:30+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-5368577","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00597-4","journal":{"identity":"discover-public-health","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Discover Public Health"},"publishedOn":"2025-04-26 15:58:16","publishedOnDateReadable":"April 26th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2024-12-05 08:05:46","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s12982-025-00597-4","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00597-4","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5368577","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5368577","identity":"rs-5368577","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}