Understanding COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Pakistan: an echo of previous immunizations or prospect of change?

ABSTRACT

Background

As countries ramp up their COVID-19 vaccination programs, attitudes of the population remain a determining player in the success of these plans. This study analyses the factors associated with intent to vaccinate against COVID-19 in the Pakistani population.

Methodology

This cross-sectional, anonymous, online survey was carried out in April 2021. Participants’ demographic details, experiences relating to COVID-19 and its vaccination, and their health beliefs were inquired and divided across Health Belief Model constructs. Multivariable regression was used to determine factors associated with a No/Not sure vs Yes response for vaccination intention.

Results

Of the 655 respondents, 62.0% were willing to get vaccinated. Significant predictors of a less likelihood of resisting vaccination included advanced age (AOR 0.25; 95% CI 0.07–0.88), fear of contracting COVID-19 (AOR 0.47; 95% CI 0.27–0.82), hope of preventing its spread (AOR 0.30; 95% CI 0.19–0.49), and community pressure (AOR 0.22; 95% CI 0.13–0.37). Concerns about vaccine reliability (AOR 2.75; 95% CI 1.67–4.53) and religious inhibitions (AOR 2.45; 95% CI 1.34–4.48) swayed people away from vaccination.

Conclusion

Despite a reasonably good response of Pakistanis to vaccination, factors negatively influencing their intention need to be timely addressed to control this pandemic.

KEYWORDS:

• Barriers
• COVID-19
• health belief model
• Pakistan
• SARS-CoV-2
• vaccination
• willingness

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

Tehniat F Ahmed and Affan Ahmed were involved in designing the study, analyzing, and interpreting the data, and drafting the paper. Sheharyar Ahmed and Haadi U Ahmed were involved in collecting data and drafting the paper. All authors were involved in critically appraising the manuscript for its intellectual content.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.