Religious Sources of COVID-19 Vaccine Information, Authentication and Vaccination Acceptance Among Students in Selected Universities in Nigeria

Abstract

This study sought to examine the relationship between religious sources of COVID-19 Vaccine information, Authentication and Vaccination acceptance among students in selected universities in Nigeria. A simple random technique was adopted for sampling. An anonymous survey was conducted online among Nigeria students in selected universities. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Of the 521 participants surveyed, 74(14.2) stated that they have already received COVID-19 vaccination, while 286 (54.9%) intend to be vaccinated as soon as the vaccine becomes available. Sourcing COVID-19 Vaccine information on Facebook has a significant positive relationship with the intent to vaccinate (r = 0.146**, N = 521, p < 0.05), while online newspapers was found to have a significant positive relationship with the intent to vaccinate (r = 0.123**, N = 521, p < 0.05). Authenticating received information has a significant positive relationship with the intent to vaccinate (r = 0.159**, N = 521, p < 0.05). The study concluded that religious sources of COVID-19 vaccine information and information authentication are essential for vaccine acceptance. Therefore, it recommends that the vaccine acceptability may be increased if students use Facebook and online newspapers more for their religious sources of COVID-19 Vaccine information. However, authenticating this information will have more impact on vaccine acceptability.