The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created an unprecedented global health challenge (1,2). Whereby globally, the number of confirmed coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) cases is Reported to be over 536 million and over 6.3 million deaths as of 19 June 2022 (3). Vaccines have been used as public health measure to break the chain of transmission and mutation for the purpose of curbing infectious diseases (4). Also as a single most important strategy to control the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (5).
While the first COVID-19 vaccine candidates showing efficacy in clinical trials have been rolled out worldwide, significant concern remains about vaccine supply, delivery, and uptake in low- and middle-income countries. The World Health Organization Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy defines “vaccine hesitancy” as a “delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccine services (6). Furthermore WHO identified it as one of the ten most important threats to global health (7).
Early in the pandemic, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) flagged that people living with HIV (PLWH) may be at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness (8). However, Emerging data suggests that HIV infection itself does not confer higher susceptibility to COVID-19, rather HIV-accompanying social disparities and co-morbidities may drive observed increases in the risk of infection and outcome severity among PLWH (9–12). The recommendations or guidelines regarding COVID-19 vaccination for PLWHA are inconsistent across countries. The WHO, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the British HIV Association, and health authorities in Australia recommend that PLWHA receive COVID-19 vaccination regardless of their CD4+ T cell counts (13–16). However, available data indicate that the vaccines are effective and that there are no unusual safety concerns among people with well-controlled HIV, including those with undetectable viral loads and CD4 cell counts above 200 cells/mm3 (17).
Despite the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative program that aimed at facilitating equitable access and distribution of COVID-19 vaccine globally, the coverage is still low among those who are eligible for vaccination in the countries that have received vaccines (18). As of 27 June 2022, African region had received 833.5 million Doses and only 18% of the populations were fully vaccinated (19). Besides that, the uptake for the COVID-19 vaccine in the population is lagging behind which may slow down the global effort in combating the pandemic (18,19).
1.2 Problem statement
Vaccines have the potential to save many lives and help bring the pandemic under control, whereby the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines can only be realized if a high proportion of the population accept the vaccine (20). There are low vaccination rates among the general population in Tanzania and possibly among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) who are said to be at high risk of severe disease once infected with COVID-19 (5). Information about COVID 19 vaccination hesitancy rates, associated factors and reasons among people living with HIV in Tanzania is scarce which is required for improving vaccine uptake and prepare effective promotion strategies which will increase PLWHIV vaccine uptake and hence reduce their vulnerability to severe COVID-19 disease among them (5,21).
1.3 Rationale of the study
This study will provide baseline information on the prevalence of COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake, Hesitancy, Associated Factors and Reasons among HIV Infected Patients at BMC Mwanza, Tanzania since, Understanding and addressing vaccine hesitancy is important to ensure improved vaccine uptake and also to prepare for effective promotion strategies.
1.4 Research question
What is the Prevalence of COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake, Hesitancy, Associated Factors and Reasons among HIV Infected Patients at Bugando Medical Centre Mwanza, Tanzania?
1.5 Research objectives
1.5.1 Broad objective
To determine the Prevalence of COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake, Hesitancy, Associated Factors and Reasons among HIV Infected Patients at Bugando Medical Centre Mwanza, Tanzania.
1.5.2 Specific objectives
1. To determine the prevalence/rate of COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake among HIV infected patients at Bugando Medical Centre. 2. To determine factors associated with COVID 19 vaccination hesitancy among HIV infected patients at Bugando Medical Centre. 3. To determine reasons for COVID 19 vaccination hesitancy among HIV infected patients at Bugando Medical Centre