COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and its Determinants among Adult Population in Somali Region of Ethiopia

Aims: To ensure effectiveness of COVID 19 vaccine in controlling the pandemic, high vaccination coverage rates are necessary to achieve herd immunity which will help reduce the transmission of the virus and ensure reduction in the risk of transmission of infection. The study assessed COVID-19 vaccine uptake and its determinants among the adult population in Somali region of Ethiopia.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional analytical study

Place and Duration of Study: Somali Region of Ethiopia in October 2021

Methodology: A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation vaccine hesitancy survey question, administered to 433 adult population in eight selected sites. Bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression were used to test association between vaccine uptake and some selected determinants. The level of significance was set at a p-value<5%.

Results: Only 29% of the respondents had received at least one dose of COVID 19 vaccine, 219(50.6%) reported no concern at all in getting infected and the perception of low risk of infection was significantly higher among those not vaccinated (χ2 =12.62, p<0.05). Only 101(23.3%) of the respondents reported that the vaccine was very important in the prevention of the disease and perceived no benefit was significantly higher among those not vaccinated (χ2 =32.30, p<0.05). Only 79(18.2%) of the respondents believed the vaccine was very safe and perceived lack of safety of the vaccine was significantly higher among those not vaccinated (χ2 =22.24, p<0.05). There was positive association between level of education and vaccine uptake (AOR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.02–2.52; p<0.05 ) while 126(47.5%) of those who had desired to be vaccinated actually got vaccinated. Other factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination uptake were friends getting vaccinated and support by community and religious leaders.

Conclusion: The perceived low risk among the population to COVID19 infection which significantly affected the poor vaccine uptake is a major concern. With only half of the population who intended to be vaccinated and ended up being vaccinated shows the need for targeted socio behavioural change communication strategies with focus on benefit of the vaccine not only to individual but to the other members of their community.