IGR Conducts Poll on COVID-19 Vaccine Awareness & Acceptance

By Isaac Swen
The Institute for Governance Reform has conducted a new survey titled: Sierra Poll done on (5th July, 2021) which seeks information on the awareness of the vaccine and whether residents in Freetown are readily taking the vaccine.
The survey reveals that awareness of the COVID-19 Vaccine increased significantly in Freetown between the months of March and July 2021. Nearly four out of every 10 of the city’s residents say they won’t take the jab.
Hope you find the attached document showing the reasons behind hesitance or reluctance in taking the vaccine as a useful information/document for our collective fight against the pandemic in Sierra Leone.
The SierraPoll looked at various factors for Vaccine Awareness Uptake in Freetown which informed their conclusions. Vaccine Awareness and Uptake increased significantly in the months of Mach and July.
Another factor taken into cognizance is “Why people take the COVID-19 Vaccine.?” Respondents stated among other things that they saw a friend take, they believe it is their duty to protect themselves and their families among several other reasons.
However in the area of “Rationale for Low Intake of the Vaccine”, residents mentioned among other things that they had no time or do not know where to go and get it, afraid of the side effects because they have seen people get sick and even die after taking the vaccine, that COVID is a hoax, that their family is against taking the vaccine, among several other reasons. Others plainly said they were afraid while some respondents refused to answer.
In the area of “Vaccine Resistance/Hesitancy in Freetown”, SierraPoll gathered from respondents that it is because they have never taken a vaccine before, are afraid to take a vaccine, will never take a vaccine or are not sure whether they should take the vaccine.
On the issue of the “Rationale for Never Taking the Vaccine” there were several very interesting responses. Some respondents said they have seen people get sick and die after taking the vaccine, that there is no point in taking the vaccine because they will just follow the precautions, that they are below the stipulated age, that their family is against taking the vaccine, that they have no confidence in the vaccine and that they have a medical condition among other reasons.
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