COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Padang City, West Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Indonesia started the COVID-19 vaccination program in January 2021. West Sumatra, Indonesia, as one of the epicentres of the spread of COVID-19, has also begun the vaccination program. However, the Government has conducted no vaccine acceptance survey in this area as done in several other Indonesia regions. Aim: This study aims to see an overview of the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Methods: A descriptive research with a survey method using a questionnaire instrument given directly to the people of Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The total respondents in this study amounted to 390 people based on inclusion criteria, with the method of taking accidental sampling. Results: This study showed that 38.2% of respondents were willing to be vaccinated, 27.9% refused to be vaccinated, and 33.8% had not decided to accept or reject the vaccine. Most respondents refused the vaccine with fear of side effects 42.9% and were concerned about vaccine safety 33.9%. More than half of the respondents (51.0%) wanted to vaccinate at public health centre. As many as 85.4% of respondents wanted to get more information about the COVID-19 vaccine being developed. Online platforms, print and electronic media are sources of information with about 40.5%, followed by face-to-face communication with 36.0% and social media with 23.5%. Conclusion: The people of Padang who stated that they were willing to undergo the COVID-19 vaccine program had not yet reached half of the number of respondents studied. However, this number has the opportunity to increase based on the enthusiastic trend of people who want to get more information about the COVID-19 vaccine. Providing correct and precise information should encourage the general public to participate in vaccination.