Influence of social media on the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine: A study of Nigerian Youths

Abstract

Use of social media may have an impact on how people feel about the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccinations are effective only when a consequential proportion of the population are vaccinated. Objective: this study aims to examine the role of social media in the acceptance of the COVID 19 vaccines among Nigerian Youths. Methods: an online survey was conducted in Nigeria, and 120 youths took part in the study. Logistic regression was adopted to discover the demographic and social media usage factors Results: Of the 120 participants, 40% have been vaccinated, and 10.83% were reluctant to be vaccinated. This study revealed that social media factors were not significant enough to determine vaccine acceptance among the youths. Frequent social media users were 1.33 (OR = 1.33, 95% Cl = 0.44-3.30) times more likely to agree that the risk of COVID-19 vaccine was being exaggerated. However, participants with more trust in vaccine information shared online were less likely to agree that decision makers had ensured the safety of the vaccine. Conclusion: the perception of the COVID-19 vaccine may change as a result of information published on social media. Therefore, it is crucial to share accurate and verified information about the COVID-19 vaccines on social media in order to boost public confidence and mitigate the effects of false propaganda.