COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy Among Healthcare Workers in Nigeria. A Mixed-Method Analysis Using the WHO 3C and BeSD Model

Nigeria had enough COVID-19 vaccines to meet its set target, yet vaccine uptake challenges persisted, even among healthcare workers. Part of a broader study conducted in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria that explored COVID-19 vaccine behavior. This study adopted the 3C and BeSD model to examine COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among healthcare workers in Nigeria. We conducted a mixed-method study involving 654 healthcare workers across Nigeria from February 8 to March 30, 2022. Quantitative data was analyzed using R (version 4.1.1) in R-Studio, The statistical results produced were descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. The qualitative analysis involved using Dedoose software. 86% of the surveyed healthcare workers are vaccinated. Community health workers and medical doctors boast over 90% vaccination rates compared to other specialties. Multivariate analysis highlights convenience as the strongest driver of COVID-19 vaccination (adjOR = 7.72, 95% CI: 3.50–17.04, p < 0.01). Barriers to vaccination using the BeSD model include vaccine safety and efficacy concerns, relating to the thinking and feeling domain, followed by access to vaccines and a busy work schedule, which express practical barriers to vaccination. There is need for policy action to combat infodemics and ensure COVID-19 vaccine access for Nigerian healthcare workers.