Abstract
As Africa prepares to overcome the difficult challenges of COVID-19 vaccination roll-outs, a number of factors, including equitable access, effective and efficient sufficient supply chains, a scope of established determinants will need to be considered in order to enhance vaccine acceptability and uptake. In this commentary, we present six major determinants of vaccine acceptability and uptake in Africa. We summarize these determinants with the acronym VAMRIS: V= Vaccine hesitancy; A= Attitude and uptake by health care workers; M= Misinformation; R= Religion; I= Immunization roll out plans; S= Social influences and enabling environment. Understanding determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptability will guide public health officials make informed decisions. As the Vaccine becomes progressively available, strategies for efficient roll-out to achieve massive uptake by the targeted population will depend on a number of factors. These include: community engagement efforts; types of health promotion activities and/or messages; community sensitization to dispel myths and misconceptions; endorsements and buy-ins from local champions, celebrities, authorities; logistic considerations; and incentives to health counsellors/workers to create demand.
Highlights
As the Corona virus pandemic continues its ravaging impact worldwide, COVID-19 vaccines are becoming increasingly available for wider public use
Even though one of the most effective ways of controlling infectious diseases like COVID-19 is through vaccination,[2] successful vaccination is COVID-19 vaccination in Africa often challenged by people and communities who resist its uptake
We had previously described some of the issues around controlling COVID-19 in Africa; we argued that applying the SHEF2 model[4] and NON-SHEF2 model[5] would slow the spread of COVID-19 but will not be sufficient to halt its spread, as herd immunity gained through vaccination will need to be well established within the African population
Summary
As the Corona virus pandemic continues its ravaging impact worldwide, COVID-19 vaccines are becoming increasingly available for wider public use. The success of any COVID-19 vaccination program, like any other vaccination program, will depend on public willingness to receive the vaccination.[3] Even though one of the most effective ways of controlling infectious diseases like COVID-19 is through vaccination,[2] successful vaccination is COVID-19 vaccination in Africa often challenged by people and communities who resist its uptake These challenges for COVID-19 vaccine acceptability currently exist in some parts of the world including Africa.[1] urgent understanding of associated determinants is needed to examine the likelihood of its acceptability and package effective health promotion strategies to enhance COVID-19 vaccine uptake. We present 6 key determinants of the likelihood of COVID-19 vaccine acceptability in the African continent dubbed the ‘VAMRIS’ perspective This perspective takes into consideration and draws from our knowledge of the implementation of public health program in the continent.
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