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Why I Have Not Taken the COVID-19 Vaccine" a Descriptive Qualitative Study of Older Adults' Perceived Views of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Nigeria

DOI:10.1007/s12062-023-09410-z
Authors:
Anthony Obinna Iwuagwu at University of Nigeria
Anthony Obinna Iwuagwu
Daniel Rayner at McMaster University
Daniel Rayner
Christopher .N. Ngwu at University of Nigeria
Christopher .N. Ngwu
Micheal Ebe Kalu
Micheal Ebe Kalu
Micheal Ebe Kalu
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Abstract and Figures

Globally, the COVID-19 vaccine uptake is increasing, but slowly among older adults residing in lower and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. Following this, we explored the perceived views of older adults on the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. We adopted a qualitative descriptive study design and purposively selected and interviewed 16 retirees of older adults. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Findings show that older adults' willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was dissuaded by their past experiences with the government, religion, and Western media, including affordability and accessibility problems related to vaccination campaigns. Findings also show that the uncertainty about the COVID-19 virus existence and perceptions about COVID-19 vaccine risks influence older adults' decisions regarding vaccine uptake. Finally, older adults' views on getting vaccinated for COVID-19 were positively influenced by the trust they placed in their physicians and other members of their healthcare system. The government should incentivize healthcare workers to serve as a nudge to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake among older adults in Nigeria.
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Vol.:(0123456789)
Journal of Population Ageing
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-023-09410-z
1 3
Why I Have Not Taken theCOVID‑19 Vaccine” aDescriptive
Qualitative Study ofOlder Adults’ Perceived Views
ofCOVID‑19 Vaccine Uptake inNigeria
AnthonyObinnaIwuagwu1 · DanielRayner2· ChristopherNdubuisiNgwu1·
MichealEbeKalu3
Received: 24 July 2022 / Accepted: 16 January 2023
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2023
Abstract
Globally, the COVID-19 vaccine uptake is increasing, but slowly among older
adults residing in lower and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. Following
this, we explored the perceived views of older adults on the uptake of the COVID-
19 vaccine in Nigeria. We adopted a qualitative descriptive study design and pur-
posively selected and interviewed 16 retirees of older adults. Data were analyzed
using conventional content analysis. Findings show that older adults’ willingness
to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was dissuaded by their past experiences with the
government, religion, and Western media, including affordability and accessibility
problems related to vaccination campaigns. Findings also show that the uncertainty
about the COVID-19 virus existence and perceptions about COVID-19 vaccine risks
influence older adults’ decisions regarding vaccine uptake. Finally, older adults’
views on getting vaccinated for COVID-19 were positively influenced by the trust
they placed in their physicians and other members of their healthcare system. The
government should incentivize healthcare workers to serve as a nudge to increase
COVID-19 vaccine uptake among older adults in Nigeria.
Keywords COVID-19· Older adults· Vaccination uptake· Nigeria
* Anthony Obinna Iwuagwu
anthony.iwuagwu@unn.edu.ng
1 Department ofSocial Work, University ofNigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
2 Department ofHealth Research methods, Evidence, andImpact, Faculty ofHealth Sciences,
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
3 School ofrehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
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