Page 97 - IJPS-10-1

International Journal of
Population Studies Attitudes of older adults toward COVID-19 vaccine

Table 3. Guide of questions for focus group discussion and in‑depth interviews, emerged themes, and sub‑themes
Serial number Key questions Emerged Themes Sub‑Themes
1. What is your view regarding the Attitudes toward COVID-19 a. Non-compliance of older adults to the vaccine uptake, their
COVID-19 vaccine that older vaccine uptake b. Rejection of COVID-19 vaccine uptake
adults are meant to take? c. Unwilling to encourage others to vaccine uptake
2. What factors encourage older Reasons for the rejection of a. It causes other sicknesses
adults to reject covid-19 vaccine? COVID-19 vaccine b. Negative reactions on the body
c. Fulfillment of God’s word (A mark of the beast; 666)

They advised us to do so, but I did not because God was and treatment. I won’t take the vaccine. Let them
with me, and I wasn’t suffering from COVID-19. People continue taking.” (Mr. Ken; Idemili-South).
are going, but I have not, for 1 day, attempted to go because In addition, one participant highlighted a perspective
God has given me sound health, but if I am sick, I will go suggesting that COVID-19 has existed for some time
to the hospital for treatment.” but has not been acknowledged in other countries. He

3.1.2. Rejection of COVID-19 vaccine uptake revealed that COVID-19 is essentially common malaria,
a longstanding affliction in Africans. This viewpoint is
Given that almost all participants conveyed that they articulated in the following quote:
had not received the COVID-19 vaccine, our inquiry
extended to discerning their willingness to accept the “I will not take the vaccine… well, I am healthy. For me,
vaccine in the future. It appears that almost all participants COVID or whatever they call it, has been in existence
in the study demonstrated indifferent attitudes toward for a long time, but it has not been experienced by the
COVID-19 vaccine uptake. With the exception of one whites (Westerners) because our bodies and theirs are
male participant expressing a conditional willingness to not the same. The sickness is just malaria that has been
accept the vaccine if available in the community, all other ravaging us before now. It is malaria, but because we
participants stated their unwillingness to take the vaccine. are not the same as the whites, it is affecting them so
During the FGD involving male older adults, a unanimous much.” (Mr. Sim; Nnewi-North)
indifferent attitude toward the vaccine was observed. 3.1.3. Unwillingness to encourage others to vaccine
Participants in the FGD thought that the local climate uptake
(Nigeria) was too hot for the virus to survive. In the same
vein, the IDI participants overwhelmingly demonstrated We also sought to ascertain if older adults would encourage
negative attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccine uptake. They or support others to accept the COVID-19 vaccine, whether
expressed their unwillingness to accept the vaccine. Mrs. they are their fellow older adults or other sub-populations
Graco from Idemili-South stated, “I will not take it, even in society. However, the participants revealed that they are
if they bring it to my house, I will not take it… laughs…” neither willing to support nor encourage anyone to accept
In addition, a participant, a lawyer by profession, went the COVID-19 vaccine. During the FGD sessions, all
to the extent of canceling all his foreign trips rather than participants expressed their unwillingness to offer support
taking the vaccine. He reflected, “No, no, no, I don’t have or encouragement for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. In
any vaccines. If people want it, it’s their decision. For me, the same vein, with the exception of only two participants
I don’t have it. Even if I want to travel, I will suspend it. in the IDI study who are willing to support others,
I won’t take it.” every other participant declined to provide support or
encouragement for vaccine acceptance. Mrs. Fel, a female
Several participants emphasized their perception participant, said, “If others can take, let them go ahead, but
of good healthy as a reason for rejecting the vaccines, as for me, I will not encourage anybody to take the vaccine.
asserting that they saw no necessity for vaccination. They If you people (researchers) can take the vaccine, it’s your
expressed a preference for seeking medical attention business; I am not part of it.” Another participant, Mrs.
at a hospital in the event of any health challenges. One Anth, a widow, stated, “Eeh, I don’t support ohh! Because
participant’s perspective on this matter was reflected in the my daughter called me and instructed me not to take the
following quote: vaccine.” Mr. Geo from Nnewi-North rhetorically asked,
“I will not take the vaccine, ho ha. No, I refuse to take “Why should I support a healthy man to take an injection?
it. If I am sick or have a headache, I have my hospital Is it a vaccine food or what? My advice is, if they don’t have
card, and I will visit the hospital for proper diagnosis food, they should get something and eat.”

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 91 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.359