Abstract
Background: Vaccination is claimed to be a key intervention against the COVID-19 pandemic. A major challenge today is to increase vaccine acceptance as vaccine hesitancy has delayed the eradication of polio. This study aimed to identify predictors associated with vaccine acceptance in the context of the Expanded Program on Immunization among parents of children between the ages of 12 to 23 months in the Foumbot district, Cameroon. Methods: The design of this study is a cross-sectional survey. A total of 160 mothers of children between the ages of 12 to 23 months were selected using a simple random sampling technique. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Incomplete vaccination status was considered “vaccine hesitancy”. Data was analyzed along with 95% confidence intervals and the p-value < 0.05. The results showed 60% vaccine acceptance and 40% vaccine hesitancy. Factors such as age-appropriate vaccination, knowledge of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD), and religion were associated with vaccine acceptance. Conclusion: Poor knowledge of VPDs is a matter of concern as it contributes to vaccine hesitancy. The study findings provide the basis to heighten health education, the public perceived threat of the VPDs, and the consequences if no measures are taken to ensure health.
Highlights
Vaccination success and necessities to eradicate communicable diseases brought widespread vaccine acceptance, and immunization programs have significantly decreased the incidence of numerous diseases in many parts of the world [1,2]
This study offers a baseline of confidence levels to assess vaccine acceptance among parents and help identify where further confidencebuilding is required to increase adoption of childhood vaccination and new vaccines such as COVID-19 vaccines
Administering the first vaccine at birth is an important step for building confidence in medical interventions and raising parental awareness about vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) and the role that the vaccination can play in promoting child health
Summary
Vaccination success and necessities to eradicate communicable diseases brought widespread vaccine acceptance, and immunization programs have significantly decreased the incidence of numerous diseases in many parts of the world [1,2]. In addition to the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), which is a free immunization program to reach each child with polio, measles, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and tuberculosis vaccines, governments in low-income countries have launched the COVID-19 immunization program [2–4]. Reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that delays in polio eradication are linked to vaccine hesitancy among parents [2]. The success of immunization programs depends on vaccines supply and on vaccine acceptance. In 2020, many countries had still not achieved 80% polio herd immunity (three polio vaccine doses) despite the availability of vaccines: Cameroon (70%), the Democratic Republic of Congo (59%), Nigeria (57%), and Central African Republic (46%) [1].
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