Potential factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among Bangladeshi people: a cross-sectional study

Although vaccines are the most effective tool for preventing infectious disease, COVID-19 vaccination coverage among Bangladeshi mass people was facing challenges because large proportions were hesitant to accept a new vaccine. This study aims to investigate COVID-19 vaccine acceptance intention and to explore the potential factors influencing vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among the Bangladeshi people. A bilingual, self-administered anonymous questionnaire was developed and deployed and mixed-mode approaches (face-to-face and on-line survey) in data collection procedure were applied from 03rd May to 20th June, 2021. In total, 782 Bangladeshi people were participated in this study through random and snowballing sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis was employed to explore and rationalize the study objectives. Empirical findings revealed that, 69.4% (95% CI 66.1–72.7) respondents had the hesitation to accept newly promoted vaccines. The binary analysis revealed that, “safety” and “efficacy” had highly significant (p < 0.01) and positive association with vaccine acceptance. “Communication” had positive and moderately significant (p < 0.05) association; “culture” had positive and significant (p < 0.1) association while “rumor” associated moderate significantly (p < 0.05) and negatively with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. According to the Pearson’s Chi-Square test, male had highly significant (p < 0.01) willingness to receive vaccines than female gender (OR = 0.501). The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy could be minimized by providing vaccine safety, side effect and, efficacy data to the community through effective communication. Health awareness campaign in remote areas would remove anti-vaccination beliefs and rumors; thus foster COVID-19 vaccine confidence among the culturally motivated Bangladeshi people.