COVID-19 vaccination acceptability among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a tertiary hospital in Southwest Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The mortality from COVID-19 is higher in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients compared to the general population, hence it is  highly desirable that DM patients are vaccinated against COVID-19 infection. The aim was to determine the willingness of type 2 DM  patients to accept COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that involved DM patients. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess  factors ssociated with willingness to be vaccinated. Results: A total of 302 DM patients participated in the study. About 90% of the respondents perceived COVID-19 to be a serious disease;  however, 33.5% of the patients considered themselves to be at risk of contracting COVID-19 despite having DM. About 70.0% of the DM  patients were willing to receive the vaccine. Factors associated with willingness to be vaccinated were perception of COVID-19 as a severe disease (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 6.09; 95% CI, 4.96- 12.27), previous vaccination (AOR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.04- 2.98), and higher education  (AOR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.04- 6.86). Conclusion: About a third of the study participants were not willing to receive COVID-19 vaccination. There  is need to educate the at-risk population about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination.