Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among healthcare professionals in the Kintampo North Municipality, Bono East Region, Ghana.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitation among Health Care Professionals (HCPs) in the Kintampo North Municipality of Ghana.

DESIGN

An analytical cross-sectional study.

SETTING

The study was carried out in the Kintampo North Municipality.

PARTICIPANTS

All health care professionals within the Kintampo North Municipality of Ghana.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine.

RESULTS

In all, 215 HCPs were included in this study. The overall vaccine acceptance was 78.6% among HCPs, while 21.4% were hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Majority (57.7%) of HCPs believed that COVID-19 vaccines were safe. The following factors were found to influence vaccine acceptance significantly; those who knew someone who has taken the vaccine (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]; 14.9, 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI];5.0-45.0, p<0.001), those who think COVID -19 vaccine in Ghana was safe (AOR;9.2, 95%CI;3.3-25.8, P<0.001), those who said vaccines are effective in controlling COVID-19 transmission (aOR=5.0, 95%CI;2.1-12.4, p<0.001), and those who have never refused vaccines in the past (aOR=7.8, 95CI;1.6-37.8, p=0.01).

CONCLUSION

The study indicated high COVID-19 vaccination acceptability among HCPs. However, some HCPs are hesitant to take COVID-19 vaccinations immediately. Increased adoption of COVID-19 vaccinations among HCPs and the broader Ghanaian population requires concerted efforts, including strengthening public health education on the perceived risks and safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

FUNDING

None declared.