Knowledge, Attitude and Acceptance of a COVID-19 Vaccine: A Global Cross-Sectional Study

International Research Journal of Business and Social Science, vol.6, no.4, 2020

23 Pages Posted: 14 Jan 2021

See all articles by Dr Kazi Abdul Mannan

Dr Kazi Abdul Mannan

Southern Cross University, Australia

Khandaker Mursheda Farhana

Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology

Date Written: December 7, 2020

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, with the United States being highly affected. A vaccine provides the best hope for a permanent solution to controlling the pandemic. Several coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines are currently in human trials. However, to be effective, a vaccine must be accepted and used by a large majority of the population. This study aimed to investigate the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines and its predictors in addition to the attitudes towards these vaccines among public. This study did an online survey during the period June-September 2020, were collected from 26,852 individuals aged 19 years or older across six continents as part of 60 nationally representative surveys to determine potential acceptance rates and factors influencing acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine. Results revealed that two-thirds of respondents were at least moderately worried about a widespread COVID-19 outbreak. Differences in acceptance rates ranged from almost 93% (in Tonga) to less than 43% (in Egypt). Respondents reporting higher levels of trust in information from government sources were more likely to accept a vaccine and take their employer’s advice to do so. Systematic interventions are required by public health authorities to reduce the levels of vaccines’ hesitancy and improve their acceptance. These results and specifically the low rate of acceptability is alarming to public health authorities and should stir further studies on the root causes and the need of awareness campaigns. These interventions should take the form of reviving the trust in national health authorities and structured awareness campaigns that offer transparent information about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines and the technology that was utilized in their production.

Keywords: Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic, outbreak, vaccine, knowledge, attitude, acceptance

JEL Classification: I100, I12, I15, I18, I19

Suggested Citation

Mannan, Kazi Abdul and Farhana, Khandaker Mursheda, Knowledge, Attitude and Acceptance of a COVID-19 Vaccine: A Global Cross-Sectional Study (December 7, 2020). International Research Journal of Business and Social Science, vol.6, no.4, 2020, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3763373 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3763373

Kazi Abdul Mannan (Contact Author)

Southern Cross University, Australia ( email )

Lismore, New South Wales 2480
Australia

Khandaker Mursheda Farhana

Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology ( email )

Road #14, Sector #13
Uttara
India

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