Acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination in Herat, Afghanistan

Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III; Ahmad Neyazi; Attaullah Ahmadi; Omid Tabesh; Habibah Afzali; Kenesh Dzhusupov; Md Shariful Islam; Rayan Nugraha; Blaise Ntacyabukura; Shyam Sundar Budhathoki; Lin Xu; Wahid Majrooh

doi:10.56101/rimj.v1i2.17

Authors

Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III University of the Philippines (Open University)
Ahmad Neyazi Afghanistan Medical Students Association
Attaullah Ahmadi Kateb University
Omid Tabesh Paktia University
Habibah Afzali Ghalib University
Kenesh Dzhusupov International School of Medicine
Md Shariful Islam Public Health Foundation
Rayan Rachmad Nugraha ThinkWell LLC
Blaise Ntacyabukura Karolinkska
Shyam Sundar Budhathoki Imperial College London
Lin Xu Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Wahid Majrooh World Health Organization

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56101/rimj.v1i2.17

Keywords:

concerns, acceptancy, vaccine hesitancy, vaccination, COVID-19, Herat-Afghanistan

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is one of the major concerns in the roll out of vaccines in many countries. The aim of the study was to assess the level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among the population in Herat, Afghanistan, the third largest city in the country.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 15 April 2021 and 20 April 2021 among the general population of Herat City to examine the acceptability rate of COVID-19 vaccine. Sample size was calculated at 555. Different variables were collected using a questionnaire developed. Data were evaluated in IBM SPSS program.

Results: Only 10.63% of the participants were willing to receive COVID-19 vaccine without having any concern and reservation. 45% were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 66.5% were concerned about the vaccine and its side effects and 29% were afraid of being infected by transmission of COVID-19 through the administration of vaccine on them.

Conclusion: This research demonstrates that, concerns about the vaccine, myths and misinformation are widespread which will undermine the vaccination process. This study recommends the initiation of more health-related campaigns and awareness programs by the government for general population to enhance and expedite the roll out of COVID-19 vaccine.

Author Biographies

Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III, University of the Philippines (Open University)

Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

Faculty of Management and Development Studies, University of the Philippines (Open University), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines.

Ahmad Neyazi, Afghanistan Medical Students Association

Supervision Commission, Afghanistan Medical Students Association, Herat, Afghanistan.

Attaullah Ahmadi, Kateb University

Medical Research Center, Kateb University, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Department of Public Health, International School of Medicine, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Omid Tabesh, Paktia University

Medical Student, Faculty of Medicine, Paktia University, Paktia, Afghanistan.

Habibah Afzali, Ghalib University

Medical Student, Faculty of Medicine, Ghalib University, Herat, Afghanistan.

Kenesh Dzhusupov, International School of Medicine

Department of Public Health, International School of Medicine, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Md Shariful Islam, Public Health Foundation

Public Health Foundation, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Rayan Rachmad Nugraha, ThinkWell LLC

ThinkWell LLC, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Blaise Ntacyabukura, Karolinkska

Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska, Stockholm, Sweden.

Shyam Sundar Budhathoki, Imperial College London

Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.

Lin Xu, Zhejiang University School of Medicine

Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Province, P.R. China.

Wahid Majrooh, World Health Organization

Vice-Chair 1, Executive Board, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

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