Public Willingness to Participate and Their Concerns with Malaysian COVID-19 Vaccination Programme: Influence of COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline Service

Abstract

Introduction:
This study assessed public willingness to participate and concerns towards the Malaysian COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Additionally, it evaluated the change in public willingness to participate before and after having their enquiries been addressed through calling the COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study that analysed the data extracted from COVID-19 vaccination hotline service enquiry records spanning the initiation of the vaccination programme (February 25, 2021, to April 18, 2021). Public willingness to participate was measured by asking the caller their willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination, with score ranging from 1-10 (1 indicates extremely not willing while 10 indicates extremely willing). Score above 7 indicates high willingness to participate. Besides, they were asked about the motivating factors towards their willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccination. Thematic analysis was used to identify the themes related to the motivating factors and concerns with the COVID-19 vaccination raised by the hotline callers.
Results:
A total of 917 callers enquired through the COVID-19 vaccination hotline during the study period. The majority of callers (78.0%) expressed willingness to participate in the vaccination programme before their enquiries were addressed. Notably, the mean willingness score exhibited a significant increase from 8.68 ±1.95 to 8.83 ±1.87 following the resolution of callers' enquiries (P<0.001). Predominant concerns, constituting 52.9% of enquiries, centred around vaccination registration and vaccination scheduling. The study identified three main factors of public willingness on receiving vaccination: personal factors (63.9%), public health awareness (20.9%), and family factors (14.0%).
Conclusion:
This research contributes valuable insights for refining vaccination campaign strategies and advocating a proactive approach to addressing public concerns.