An Empirical Assessment of the Factors Influencing Acceptance of COVID 19 Vaccine Uptake between Kenyan and Hungarian Residing Populations: A Cross Sectional Study
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Date
2022
Authors
Macharia, John M.
Gakenye, GraceW.
Rozmann, Nóra
Onchonga, David
Mwangi, Ruth W.
Kaposztas, Zsolt
Mathenge, John M.
Pusztai, Dorina
Pinter, Marton
Sugar, Miklos
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Scientific Reports
Abstract
The development of efective, safe, and acceptable vaccines is a long process. COVID-19 vaccine
hesitancy continues to elicit mixed reactions among diferent quarters despite numerous evidence
of their efectiveness. This study aimed to determine the availability and acceptance rates of SARSCoV-2 vaccines, among Kenyan and Hungarian residing populations and the underlying reasons
contributing to the hesitancy of uptake. A non-probability, snowball sampling design was employed,
and a survey questionnaire tool link was expeditiously disseminated. Data were carefully analyzed
descriptively. Demographic variables, COVID-19 awareness, possible exposure, reasons associated
with hesitancy in taking up a vaccine, choice of a vaccine, and availability of vaccines among other
important variables were tested to explore their associations with vaccine acceptance rates between
the two distinct countries. A total of 1960 participants were successfully enrolled in the research
study, while 67 participants were excluded based on the inclusion criterion set. There was, however,
no signifcant diference in COVID-19 public awareness between the Kenyan and Hungarian-residing
participants, p = 0.300. Of the respondents, 62.4% were willing and ready to receive vaccines against
COVID-19 disease. There was a signifcant diference (p= 0.014) between the Kenyan and Hungarianresiding respondents concerning vaccine uptake and acceptance rates. The vaccine acceptance rates
in Hungary were higher than in Kenya, with mean= 0.27, SD= 0.446, S. E= 0.045 for the Hungarian
population sample and mean= 0.40, SD= 0.492, S. E= 0.026, for the Kenyan sample respectively.
Concerning gender and vaccine acceptance, there was a notable signifcant diference between
males and females, p = 0.001, where the mean for males and females were 0.29 and 0.46 respectively.
Acceptance rates among males were higher than among females. The functions of One-Way ANOVA
and Chi-square were used to establish any signifcant diferences and associations between means and
variables respectively. Concerns regarding the safety, efcacy, and accuracy of information about the
developed vaccines are signifcant factors that must be promptly addressed, to arrest crises revolving around COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, especially in Kenya and among females in both populations,
where acceptance rates were lower. Expansion of the screening program to incorporate antibody
(serology) tests, is also highly recommended in the present circumstance. Equitable distribution of
vaccines globally should be encouraged and promoted to adequately cover low- and middle-income
countries. To enhance efective combat on vaccination hesitancy and apprehension in diferent
countries, mitigation techniques unique to those countries must be adopted.
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Citation
Macharia, J. M., Gakenye, G. W., Rozmann, N., Onchonga, D., Mwangi, R. W., Kaposztas, Z., ... & Raposa, B. L. (2022). An empirical assessment of the factors influencing acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine uptake between Kenyan and Hungarian residing populations: A cross-sectional study. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 22262.