Page 98 - IJPS-10-1

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

3.2. Theme 2: Reasons for COVID-19 vaccine infectious diseases by conferring benefits upon vaccinated
hesitancy individuals and safeguarding communities through the
reduction of disease transmission (Rodrigues & Plotkin,
We sought to uncover the reasons behind older adults’
vaccine hesitancy, given their expressed unwillingness to 2020). In light of these considerations, this study sought
accept the vaccine. According to the transcripts analysis, to ascertain the attitudes of Nigerian older adults toward
some participants cited concerns that the vaccine might the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. The study’s findings
cause other illnesses. Mr. Mik stated, “My brothers revealed that almost all participants had not yet received
(researchers), I won’t take the vaccine because there was the COVID-19 vaccine. With the exception of one male
a time it was announced that those people that took the participant who acknowledged having received the
injection abroad have been infected with another illness.” COVID-19 vaccine, the remaining participants had not
Similarly, a female participant, Mrs. Joye from Nnewi- accepted the vaccine. Similar observations were reported
North, shared her thoughts, “I won’t take it; I will not take in Jordan and Malaysia, where there was low uptake of the
the injection because some people discovered that anyone COVID-19 vaccine (El-Elimat et al., 2021; Mohamed et al.,
who takes the injection doesn’t survive it, especially those 2021). On the contrary, in countries such as China and
who are not up to 60 years. They also said that it has an Spain, findings revealed that a majority of the populace,
aftereffect on those who receive the vaccine. I will not take including older adults, had completed the full course of
the vaccine.” Another female participant, Mrs. Vic from the COVID-19 vaccine (Iguacel et al., 2021; Mohamadi
Idemili-South, expressed her concern, “… but the question et al., 2021; Ontario Agency for Health Protection and
is that people that started it, what they are showing us is Promotion, 2021; Zheng et al., 2021).
that someone’s body can light up an electric bulb, that The findings of this study underscore that participants
someone’s body can work as a magnetic substance. So, demonstrated indifferent attitudes toward the uptake of
you notice that the consequences are detrimental to one’s the COVID-19 vaccine. Among the older adults who
health. The vaccine is a failure, it’s a failure, it’s a failure. participated in the study, only one expressed willingness
I can’t be part of it.” Other participants viewed the vaccine to accept the vaccine if it were made available. The
as the fulfillment of God’s word regarding the end time, narratives provided by the participants reveal a lack of
believing that accepting the COVID-19 vaccine involves knowledge among Nigerian older adults about COVID-19,
receiving the mark of the beast, symbolized by 666. its consequences, and the importance of the vaccine
A female participant reflected her thoughts in the following in reducing the spread of COVID-19. Comparable to
quote: the findings in Jordan and Malaysia, these nations also
“Waa! First, the Bible is real, and we are well warned displayed indifferent attitudes toward accepting the
about the inventions that will be made manifest in COVID-19 vaccine (El-Elimat et al., 2021; Mohamed
the end time. We are told about the mark of the beast, et al., 2021). In contrast, older adults in Saudi Arabia
the time of that 666, and so on. The Bible told us that demonstrated a greater willingness to accept the COVID-
we would be injected on our hands and heads. It is 19 vaccine (Al-Mohaithef & Padhi, 2020). Similar positive
happening now; reading makes a man and all that trends were observed in countries such as Malta, the
the Bible says is happening now. The world, through United Kingdom, the US, France, and other nations
technology, is about to fulfill the word of God. So, (Cordina et al., 2021; Lazarus et al., 2020; Murphy et al.,
these technologies are strategies to fulfill it. What is 2020; Szilagyi et al., 2020; Sherman et al., 2020).
coming next cannot be easily comprehended now”. The findings of this study revealed a range of reasons
provided by participants for their aversion to the COVID-
4. Discussion 19 vaccine. Some of the reported reasons include
Vaccine development and utilization have proven highly unfounded rumors suggesting that the vaccine causes other
effective in curtailing the spread of the COVID-19 illnesses, that individuals who receive it may succumb to
pandemic (Kumari et al., 2021), as they boost individuals’ its effects, and that the vaccine possesses the ability to light
immune systems, generating antibodies to combat an electric bulb or attract iron substances. These findings
existing diseases. The COVID-19 vaccine, in particular, underscore a noticeable lack of knowledge among Nigerian
is essential for preventing the virus’s spread and further older adults regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Similar
outbreak. However, the issue of COVID-19 vaccine concerns were observed in other countries, such as Poland,
hesitancy poses a significant threat to global health safety where Rzymski et al. (2021) discovered that older adults
(Ezema et al., 2023). Vaccines play an important role in expressed fear of the COVID-19 vaccine due to concerns
reducing morbidity and mortality associated with various about severe adverse effects, serious allergic reactions, and

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 92 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.359