South African students believe the COVID vaccine is safe, with 83% willing to take the jab, and most of them preferring the Pfizer and then the J&J vaccine, reports MedicalBrief.
Mainstream and social media are their main sources of vaccine information with the most trusted sources being GPs and specialists. Preferred vaccination sites are pharmacies and GPs, and concern of the vaccine efficacy and safety were significantly association with their willingness to be vaccinated.
These were the key findings taken away from a study carried out at Wits University by Dr Bhadrashi Modie and his team, among students, academics and professional staff. The research was published in MedRXiv.
Background
COVID-19 vaccination is the primary intervention, along with the other public health measures, in curbing the pandemic. The key success factor of the vaccine programme is the willingness to be vaccinated, in addition to other factors such as effective communication and accessibility to the vaccines. The willingness to be vaccinated also influences the speed of the vaccination programme, which is crucial as each vaccine administered implies fewer COVID-19 cases, hospitalisation, and death
Our study population was adults studying or working at the University of the Witwatersrand. All students and academic and professional staff older than 18 years were eligible to participate. The university has a campus in Braamfontein and Parktown with 40 129 registered students, 1 642 academic staff, and nearly 3 960 administrative and service staff.
Sample size and sampling
Using the OpenEpi software the sample was calculated based on the following assumptions, Wits community population (N=42,000), 50% of the participants will be willing to undertake COVID-19 vaccine, marginal error 5%, design effect of 2, and the 70% online survey nonresponse rate the estimated minimum sample size is 1300. We expected the distribution of participants to be at the ratio of 9:1 (1170 students and 130 staff). All adult students and staff were invited to participate in the study.
Data collection procedures and ethical considerations
After obtaining ethics approval from the University of Witwatersrand Human Research Ethics Committee (M210495), and permission from the University of the Witwatersrand registrar, the registrar’s office sent the survey link to eligible students and staff. The email contained information on the study and participants had to consent before they could access the survey questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on the number of factors that will influence the successful and rapid roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines, which includes the acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine, the influence of social media), personal preferences and accessibility and convenient sites that feels safe. The online survey ran from 27 July–14 August 2021 and was closed thereafter. The survey responses were captured in Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) database. Data was stored in a password-protected cloud server. No identifying information was collected from the participants.
General characteristics of the study population
The university registrar shared the survey link with 40,129 students, 1,642 academic staff, and 3,960 professional and administrative staff. The survey response rate was 2364/45731 (5.0%). Almost all participants responded to all survey questions 2330(98.6%). Among all participants (n=2364), 82% were students, 66.8% were in the 18-29 years age band, females represented 64.0% and 49.2% were black people.
Study details
Willingness to take the Covid-19 vaccines and associated factors at a tertiary institution community in Johannesburg, South Africa
Bhadrashi H Modi, Deidré Pretorius, Joel M Francis.
Published in MedRXiv 1 November 2021
Abstract
Background: SA is aiming to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 by the first quarter of 2022. The success of the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out depends primarily on the willingness of the population to take the vaccines.
Aim: This study examined the willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine, along with the factors of concern, efficacy, and preferences of the individual which may increase the willingness to be vaccinated.
Setting: This study was conducted at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, amongst adult students and academic and professional staff.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional online study from 27 July – 14 August 2021. We performed descriptive and inferential analysis to determine the factors associated with willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Results
A total of 2,364 participants responded to a survey link and 82% were students, 66.8% were in the 18-29 years age band, females represented 64.0% and 49.2% were black people. A total of 1,965 (83.3%) were willing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, the most preferred vaccines were Pfizer (41%) and J&J (23%); local pharmacy (29%) and GP (17%) were the preferred places for vaccination and the trusted sources of information on COVID-19 vaccines were the general practitioners (40.6%) and specialists (19,2%). Perceptions that vaccines are safe (aOR=31.56, 95%CI: 16.02-62.12 for affirmative agreement) and effective (aOR=5.92, 95%CI: 2.87-12.19 for affirmative agreement) were the main determinants for willingness to taking a COVID-19 vaccine
Conclusion
It is imperative to reinforce the message of COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy and to include the GPs and the community pharmacies in the vaccination roll-out in SA.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
UCT and Stellenbosch academics line up behind mandatory COVID-19 vaccines
26-member SA universities body backs mandatory vaccinations
The contested terrain of mandating vaccinations at SA universities
Acceptance of vaccines is increasing, especially among blacks
The debate over a mandatory vaccine policy for South Africa