A Qualitative Analysis of the Impact of Political Trust in the Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine in Three Nigerian Geopolitical Zones

Abstract

The issue of COVID-19 vaccination is an important step in the control of the COVID-19 infection in the community. There have been different adopted strategies in the control of the infection and the best public intervention has been getting vaccinated for now. The most likely solution to ending the current pandemic remains through achieving a better community reach, and the frank acceptance of the availed WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine in communities. In this study, the reason for the COVID-19 vaccine uptake was evaluated across 3 geopolitical zones in Nigeria with differential political affiliation. This study utilized a qualitative sample collection methodology to qualify the prevalence of different views on COVID-19 vaccine acceptability, access, and political trust. The data was gathered utilizing pre-tested in-depth interviews, which were transcribed and analyzed thematically through the transcripts obtained from the open-ended key informant interviews. The findings from the qualitative studies indicated that the fear of the side effects, apathy/lack of interest, scarce logistics, people’s opinion, and self-denial were more of the pertinent issue around the poor COVID-19 vaccine uptake among the respondents. Government needs to ensure that health interventions rolled are adequately accessible to the targeted people and should consider the community culture while rolling out health interventions.