Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

A Qualitative Study Exploring Motivators and Barriers to COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Adults in South Africa and Zimbabw

Nellie Myburgh
,
Mamakiri Mulaudzi
,
Gugulethu Tshabalala
,
Norest Beta
,
Kimberley Gutu
,
Stefanie Vermaak
,
Charles Lau
,
Catherine Hill
ORCID logo ,
Lawrence Stanberry
ORCID logo ,
Wilmot James
,
Shabir Madhi
ORCID logo ,
Tariro Makadzange
ORCID logo ,
Janan Janine Dietrich
* ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 18 January 2023 / Approved: 24 January 2023 / Online: 24 January 2023 (08:14:15 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Myburgh, N.; Mulaudzi, M.; Tshabalala, G.; Beta, N.; Gutu, K.; Vermaak, S.; Lau, C.; Hill, C.; Stanberry, L.; James, W.; Madhi, S.; Makadzange, T.; Dietrich, J.J. A Qualitative Study Exploring Motivators and Barriers to COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Adults in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Vaccines 2023, 11, 729. Myburgh, N.; Mulaudzi, M.; Tshabalala, G.; Beta, N.; Gutu, K.; Vermaak, S.; Lau, C.; Hill, C.; Stanberry, L.; James, W.; Madhi, S.; Makadzange, T.; Dietrich, J.J. A Qualitative Study Exploring Motivators and Barriers to COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Adults in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Vaccines 2023, 11, 729.

Abstract

While vaccines are a well-established method of controlling the spread of infectious diseases, vaccine hesitancy jeopardizes curbing the spread of COVID-19. Through the Vaccine Information Network (VIN), this study explored barriers and motivators to COVID-19 vaccine uptake. We conducted 18 focus group discussions with male and female community members, stratified by country, age group, and—for Zimbabwe only—by HIV status. Participants’ median age across both countries was 40 years (interquartile range of 22–40) and most (65.9%) were female. We conceptualized the key themes within the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) 3Cs (convenience, confidence, complacency) vaccine hesitancy model. Barriers to vaccine uptake—lack of convenience, low confidence, and high complacency—included inaccessibility of vaccines and vaccination sites, vaccine safety and development concerns, and disbelief in COVID-19’s existence. Motivators to vaccine uptake—convenience, confidence and low complacency—included accessibility of vaccination sites, user-friendly registration processes, trust in governments and vaccines, fear of dying from COVID-19 and knowing someone who had died or become infected with COVID-19. Overall, vaccine hesitancy in South Africa and Zimbabwe was influenced by inconvenience, a lack of confidence, and high complacency around COVID-19 vaccines.

Keywords

COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; vaccines; hesitancy; Africa

Subject

Social Sciences, Psychology

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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