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. 2022 Dec 30;18(7):2153538.
doi: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2153538. Epub 2022 Dec 8.

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

Catherine G Sutcliffe  1 , Pamela Sinywimaanzi  2 , Juliet Morales  3 , Morris Sianyanda  2 , Mathias Muleka  2 , Katherine Z J Fenstermacher  4 , Mwaka Monze  5 , Richard E Rothman  4 , Andrew Pekosz  6 , Philip E Thuma  2 , Edgar Simulundu  2
Affiliations

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

Catherine G Sutcliffe et al. Hum Vaccin Immunother. .

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; perceptions; public health measures; sub-Saharan Africa; vaccines.

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Conflict of interest statement

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

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
a) Adherence to public health measures by time perioda (Jan 2021 to May 2022) and b) perceptions of COVID-19 risk, severity, and vaccines by time perioda,b (May 2021 to May 2022) in Macha, Zambia.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Reasonsa for not wanting to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Macha, Zambia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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