This study aimed to investigate the structural concerns, knowledge, and beliefs about COVID-19 vaccination in the Ghanaian context. As a result, understanding the changing dynamics of knowledge, concerns, and beliefs about COVID-19 vaccination and health is critical for disease control and prevention. This study used a quantitative method with convenience sampling to ask respondents about COVID-19 vaccine acceptance through an online questionnaire shared with indigenous residents in and outside Ghana with 346 respondents. This study employed various data analysis techniques, including structural equation modelling, multi-group data analysis, and interaction effects. The degree of belief and concern regarding vaccination knowledge was statistically different. It is assumed that males tend to believe more about vaccination and have higher knowledge than females. The study adds an original view of differences in the perception of people in Ghana on how they perceived the belief and concern for vaccination knowledge based on demographic factors of gender, employment, and unemployment.
TopIntroduction
Attributed to the present pandemic, the novel SARS-COV-2 infection (COVID-19) has caused significant adverse economic, social and health impacts. Food transport chains have been negatively impacted (Sauramäki et al., 2021), educational systems disrupted, and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals strained due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Ferreras-Listán et al., 2021). With the documented infection of over half a billion people globally and millions of deaths attributed to the COVID-19 disease (WHO, 2020), the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the worst pandemics in modern public health history despite technological and healthcare advancements (Adusei-Mensah et al., 2021). The novel, protein-enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA SARS-COV-2 Beta-coronavirus has been linked to the current outbreak. Currently, there is no definitive cure for this disease, and prevention has been achieved through numerous global and country-specific public health measures. Numerous public health interventions, including gathering, mobility restrictions, lockdowns, mass mask-wearing, social distancing, and mass vaccination campaigns, have been widely explored. Although the public's experience with most of these interventions was new, vaccination has been one of the oldest and tested arsenals in vaccine-preventable disease eradication. Like drug design and development, the process of vaccine development is a lengthy and money-intensive adventure in which many vaccine candidates do not eventually enter the market.
Recent studies have revealed that, based on the first Wuhan-Hu-1 strain, which was at the frontline of vaccine investigations and research, nine (9) Covid-19 vaccine candidates are currently available. The first four (4), NVX-CoV2373, mRNA-1273, Sputnik V, and BNT162b2, had (∼96%), (∼94%), (∼92%), (∼95%) respective efficacy against symptomatic Covid-19 disease (Hadj, 2022). Followed by AZD1222 has (∼81%) efficacy against symptomatic Covid-19 disease (Hadj, 2022). The following vaccines were used: Covaxin (∼78%) and BBIBP-CorV (∼79%), CoronaVac (∼51%), and Ad26.CoV. S (∼66%) efficacy against symptomatic Covid-19 disease (Hadj, 2022). In general, all nine (9) Covid-19 vaccine candidates have more than 50% efficacy against symptomatic Covid-19 disease (Hadj, 2022). Nevertheless, the efficacy of all the aforementioned vaccines can be endangered or rendered inefficient as a result of the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variant and the widespread spread of the virus. The SARS-CoV-2 variant can escape neutralizing antibodies and cell-mediated immunity. In the case of mRNA and viral vector vaccines, unfavorable adverse health events rarely occur soon after administration. Although many Covid-19 vaccines have been developed, more potent and effective vaccines that could help fight all SARS-CoV-2 variants are still required to meet the huge global demand. Some promising Covid-19 vaccines such as ZF2001, AD5-nCOV, EpiVacCorona, WIBP-CorV, CVnCoV, and ZyCoV-D, are promising for clinical studies. COVID-19-approved vaccines and booster shorts have been globally rolled out, and new booster shots for variants are continually being developed.