A Global Map of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Rates per Country: An Updated Concise Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Vaccine hesitancy, defined as vaccine delay or refusal, poses a significant obstacle to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The extensive body of research on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy necessitates periodic reviews to synthesize global acceptance rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a concise summary of worldwide COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates.
• To identify regions with high and low vaccine acceptance and areas where hesitancy is more pronounced.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review was conducted, retrieving data on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates from surveys across 114 countries/territories.
• Data were analyzed and categorized by geographical regions including Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, and Central Asia.

Main Results:

• COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates varied widely globally, with some countries reporting rates as high as 97% (Nepal, Vietnam) and others as low as 13% (Iraq).
• Acceptance rates of 60% or higher were observed in 72 out of 114 countries, while 42 countries reported rates between 13% and 59%.
• Vaccine hesitancy was found to be more pronounced in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA), Europe and Central Asia, and Western/Central Africa regions.

Conclusions:

• Significant disparities in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance exist globally, highlighting the complex nature of vaccine hesitancy.
• Further research is recommended in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia to better understand public intentions regarding COVID-19 vaccination.
• Targeted public health interventions may be necessary to address vaccine hesitancy in regions with lower acceptance rates.