COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Africa: A scoping review

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Abstract Background: Vaccination against the novel coronavirus is one of the most effective strategies for combating the global Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Vaccine hesitancy has however emerged as a major obstacle in several regions of the world, including Africa.Objective: To rapidly summarize the literature on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Africa.Methods: We searched OVID Medline, Google Scholar, African Journals Online, and African Index Medicus for studies published from January 1, 2020, to July 5, 2021, examining acceptance or hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine in Africa. Information on study characteristics study participants’ attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine were extracted from the included articles. Factors associated with vaccine hesitancy or uptake were grouped as themes and summarized.Results: A total of 16 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Majority of the studies were conducted in Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo. Studies conducted in Ghana, Somalia, Uganda, Benin, Cameroon, Malawi, Mali, Ethiopia, and South Africa were also included in the review. The vaccine acceptance rate ranged from 15.4 to 88.8 %. The major reasons for vaccine hesitancy were concerns with vaccine safety and side effects, lack of trust for pharmaceutical industries and vaccination trials, and misinformation or conflicting information from the media. Factors associated with positive attitudes towards the vaccine included being male, having a higher level of education, and fear of contracting the virus.Conclusion: Our review provides important considerations for addressing the challenge of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and blunting the impact of the pandemic in Africa.

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