An assessment of COVID-19 vaccine knowledge and acceptability among healthcare workers in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

Objectives: To assess the knowledge and acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines among HCWs.

Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2021 among eligible HCWs using a self-administered questionnaire.

Setting: The study was conducted in a southern Nigerian tertiary hospital.

Participants: All HCWs not on annual or study leave were eligible to participate. The number of HCWs in each occupational category was determined by proportional allocation. HCWs were selected by stratified sampling technique.

Main outcome measures: Knowledge of COVID-19 vaccines was assessed using 25 questions. The minimum and maximum scores were 0 and 25, respectively. Scores were converted to percentages. Scores of 50% and above were rated as good knowledge. Participants were also asked if they were willing to receive the vaccine.

Results: The mean age of 512 participating HCWs was 33.4±7.8 with an M:F ratio of 1:1.1. Overall, 399 (76.6%) had good knowledge. Occupation and exposure to COVID-19 were predictors of knowledge. Three hundred and twenty-eight respondents (63.0%) were willing to take the vaccine. Predictors of willingness to accept vaccination were age, sex, number of years in employment and knowledge about the vaccines (p< 0.05).

Conclusions: Most HCWs had good knowledge and were disposed to accepting the COVID-19 vaccine. Educational interventions are necessary to improve HCWs knowledge as they may provide vaccine-related information to the general public.

Funding: None declared.