Even after four years of its appearance, the covid-19 pandemic is still the subject of several researches and studies, the latest to date: a survey carried out by the journal Cureus on adherence to vaccination against Covid-19 in Morocco. The latter revealed several factors influencing people’s hesitancy to be vaccinated.
Published on November 5, the study reveals that almost half of the participants (51.2%) were hesitant about vaccination. These results were obtained from a survey carried out between April 9, 2022 and April 27, 2023 among 453 volunteers aged 18 and over, distributed in different primary health care centers in Morocco.
Vaccine hesitancy has been identified as being largely conditioned by socio-economic, psychological and personal experience factors. Indeed, socio-economic status has a direct impact on people’s decision to be vaccinated.
The same results show that people without income are 2.7 times more likely to question the effectiveness and necessity of vaccination. This could be because these individuals have limited access to healthcare, leading them to perceive vaccination as a vital preventative measure to avoid high medical costs. This motivation could also be reinforced by a lack of adequate information about the benefits of vaccination, making these individuals more vulnerable to preconceived ideas or misinformation circulating in society.
Regarding risk perception, the survey highlighted that those who do not consider Covid-19 to be a serious threat are 13.1 times more likely to not want to be vaccinated. This perception is often fueled by personal beliefs, contradictory information or downplaying the severity of the pandemic. This phenomenon is particularly observable among those who have not been infected by the virus, who are 3.3 times more hesitant. The latter do not directly feel the threat of the disease, which reduces their motivation to protect themselves through vaccination.
That said, concerns about vaccine side effects and the need to receive booster doses significantly increase vaccine hesitancy. People concerned about side effects are 8.6 times more likely not to get vaccinated, while those skeptical of booster doses are 5.5 times more likely. These concerns may be exacerbated by the circulation of rumors and misinformation, particularly on social media, which fuel fears about the long-term effects of vaccines.
Despite these reluctances, 48.8% of survey participants expressed their willingness to be vaccinated, a rate lower than the global vaccination average (66.01%) and that observed in other Arab countries (62 .4%). This figure suggests that although many Moroccans are willing to protect themselves, a significant percentage remain hesitant.
The researchers also revealed an interesting relationship between lack of income and a strong intention to get vaccinated. This relationship could be explained by the limited access to health care for unemployed people, who consider vaccination as an important preventive measure to avoid potential health expenses in the event of contamination. This suggests that low-income individuals may perceive vaccination as a more economical alternative to possible health complications due to Covid-19.
On the other hand, the survey revealed a positive correlation between the perception of Covid-19 as a serious illness and the intention to be vaccinated. People who view Covid-19 as a potentially fatal infection are more likely to get vaccinated, thus perceiving the vaccine as a necessary measure to protect themselves and avoid dramatic consequences.
However, researchers also warn of the negative effects of underestimating Covid-19, especially among those who have already been infected. This misunderstanding of the severity of the disease, combined with the misconception that immunity acquired through infection is sufficient, constitutes a barrier to the desire to be vaccinated. People with a history of Covid-19 infection may falsely believe they are protected against the virus, reducing their perception of the need to get vaccinated.
