Prof. Ikemefuna Uzochukwu, the Principal Investigator, Drug Design and Informatics Group, says 50 per cent of Nigerians are willing to take COVID-19 vaccines.
Uzochukwu made this known on Thursday in a keynote address at the ongoing Virtual
Conference of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPHARM) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE)’s Media Week.
He spoke on: “Drug Use and Misuse During The COVID-19 Pandemic.”
Uzochukwu, also a former Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said that the finding was the outcome of a study conducted in a university community.
According to him, 42.7 per cent are not willing to take
the COVID-19 vaccine due to some factors identified in the study.
The expert gave reasons for COVID-19 hesitancy to include its safety and effectiveness.
He listed others to include source of vaccine, trust deficit, fear of genetic modification, hastily produced, mark of the beast and too many conspiracy theories.
Uzochukwu said factors that influenced COVID-19 perception in the study were marital status (odd ratio-2.07); age ratio (odd ratio-0.54) and religious affiliation (odd ratio-0.34).
He said that many Nigerians were hesitant to take the vaccine because there was no proper education on it.
According to him, if there is proper education, 66.6 per cent of Nigerians would like to take the vaccine.
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