Uptake of public health measures and vaccine acceptance during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural Zambia

ABSTRACT

Vaccines are effective tools to prevent COVID-19-related morbidity. However, coverage is low throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Uptake of public health measures, perceptions of COVID-19 illness and vaccines, and intention to vaccinate were evaluated in 2021–2022 in rural Zambia. Adherence to public health measures, perceptions of COVID-19 risk and severity, and vaccine acceptance increased significantly over time, particularly in December 2021, coinciding with the fourth pandemic wave and relaunch of the national vaccine campaign. Vaccine acceptance was associated with perceptions of vaccine safety and effectiveness, but not disease severity. These findings highlight the importance of strong pandemic response and public communication for increased uptake of mitigatory measures, including vaccine acceptance.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• sub-Saharan Africa
• vaccines
• perceptions
• public health measures

Acknowledgements

We thank the study team and participants for their contributions to the study. We also thank the staff at Macha Hospital for their support and assistance in conducting the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Under the Research Health Act, the Government of Zambia does not allow public access to data collected in Zambia. All investigators interested in the data are required to submit a written request to the Ministry of Health. Contact Dr. Catherine Sutcliffe ([email protected]) to coordinate the request.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website at https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2022.2153538.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (contract HHSN272201400007C) awarded to the Johns Hopkins Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance (JHCEIRS). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not represent the policy or position of NIAID or NIH. The funding agency had no role in the analysis of the data, writing of the manuscript, or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Support was also provided by the Richard Eliasberg Family Foundation.