COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and its Determinants among Health Care Workers in Somali Region of Ethiopia

Aims: Healthcare workers are known to be at higher risk of COVID-19 infection and have a role in transmitting the infection to others in the work environment and communities. Public health measures and vaccination are the major strategies being implemented to prevent and control the infection. The study assessed COVID -19 vaccine uptake and its determinants among health care workers in Somali region of Ethiopia.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional analytical study.

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

Methodology: A structured self-administered questionnaire adapted from the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization vaccine hesitancy survey question was used and administered to 427 healthcare workers in eight selected sites. Bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression were used to assess association between vaccine uptake and some selected determinants. The level of significance was set at a p-value<5%.

Results: About 71% of the health workers have been vaccinated at least once and vaccination was significantly higher among those with perceived risk of being infected (χ2 =12.19, p<0.05), perceived benefit of the vaccine (χ2 = 47.30, p<0.05) and perceived protection of the vaccine for their communities (χ2 =22.13, p<0.05). About 45% of the respondents believed the vaccine was very safe and vaccination was significantly higher among those who believed the safety of the vaccine (χ2 = 23.06, p<0.05). Vaccine uptake was higher among medical doctors than other health professionals, (AOR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.09–5.48), p<0.05. The study showed significant relationship between inclination towards vaccination and actual vaccination where about 78% of those who had desired to be vaccinated actually got vaccinated. Other factors associated with vaccination uptake were colleagues getting vaccinated and support by community and religious leaders to vaccination.

Conclusion: The study identified key determinants to vaccine uptake among the health workers which included perceived risk of being infected, perceived benefit, safety of the vaccines and perceived protection of the vaccine for their communities. These require targeted Social and behavioural change communication strategies to address.