The confidence in vaccinations has been dwindling across several African countries amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research findings.
A study encompassing 17,000 individuals from eight countries in Africa reported a significant drop of up to 20% in respondents affirming the importance of vaccines for children from 2020 to 2022. The study highlighted increasing scepticism regarding the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as other immunizations across certain countries and regional areas.
These patterns serve as a potential alarm for broader vaccination endeavors for both children and adults, says Charles Shey Wiysonge, the leader of a vaccination program at the WHO's African Regional Office. The gathered data could aid health authorities in pinpointing areas that need concentrated efforts to regain faith in vaccinations.
To uncover the shifts in public vaccine perceptions, a global research group conducted surveys in eight countries - DRC, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda - towards the end of 2020 and in the early part of 2022. Participants were asked to indicate their level of agreement with various generic vaccine-related statements, including its importance for children and all ages, as well as its safety. The study also explored the perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Despite the increasing scepticism, the majority of respondents remained positive about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccines in general.
However, the researchers noted an increase in doubts regarding childhood vaccinations across all eight nations. The steepest decline was observed in the DRC, with a 20% decrease in agreement about the importance of vaccines for children. Uganda and Nigeria also reported notable decreases in agreement.
The trust in the statement "vaccines are vital for all ages" saw a decline in Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda. Nigeria and the DRC also reported a decrease in confidence in vaccine safety, whereas it improved in Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Senegal.
The number of people agreeing on the importance of COVID-19 vaccines also reduced in seven nations, with Ivory Coast being the only exception. The researchers pointed out that these trends align with those observed in other national and global surveys regarding vaccine confidence.
The study presents a detailed analysis of how perceptions changed in 17 distinct regional areas, including the observation that vaccine confidence is often lower in rural areas compared to cities. This information can be leveraged by policymakers to address specific areas with declining confidence.
As the WHO and other international bodies report a concerning decrease in routine childhood immunizations, this survey arrives. Over the last two years, six million fewer children received routine shots for diseases including tetanus, polio, diphtheria, and measles, risking the reversal of progress made against these preventable diseases. The pandemic-induced supply chain issues, travel limitations, and other disruptions have likely contributed to the decrease. However, this study suggests that the pandemic-led decrease in vaccine confidence may also play a significant role, according to Sara Cooper, a public health specialist at the South African Medical Research Council. Wiysonge also expressed concern over the spill-over of the declining confidence in COVID-19 vaccines to childhood vaccination.
However, it's still uncertain whether vaccine-hesitant individuals will refuse all immunizations. Understanding what influences these choices is urgently required to enhance vaccine acceptance and prevent further outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, Cooper adds.