Conceptual Framework for Epidemics and Vaccination Dilemma

Abstract

Outbreaks of diseases have positive and negative effects on humans. An example of the positive epidemic dilemma was seen in the 2020 lockdown across the world where families spent quality time together and couples seeking for the fruit of the womb conceived after many years, working from home was introduced, Lagosians working from home reduced stress from traffic, remote jobs were increased, online zoom, Webex webinars, online surveys, seminars, conference, Viva Voca, graduation and growth for online business and banking. Apps were available for the masses to access health online, known as Telemedicine. While the negative epidemics dilemma includes loss of jobs, slow down in economy across the world, poverty, drug abuse, self–medication, Anti-microbial resistance, child abuse, rape, divorce, shadow pandemic, death, and no access to education for those that do not have internet facilities to learn/study/school online. Vaccine’s hesitancy is an established dilemma that contributes to significant health challenges which cause a high rate of infant sickness and death. There are certain factors like cultural, social, demographic, and psychosocial factors that contribute to the vaccine dilemma. This conceptual framework illustrates the factors that drive epidemics and vaccine dilemma, which can be vaccination acceptance and hesitancy. For an intervention to be implemented successfully, we need to understand the triggers of epidemics and vaccination dilemma. The socio-demographic characteristics like age, sex, marital status, level of education, choice of hospital, employment status, level of income, health insurance status and the number of children is significantly associated with vaccine uptake among parents.