COVID-19 Vaccination: The Greater Manila Experience 2021

Bianca  J. Bermejo,; Jose Ronilo  G. Juangco,; Jules Maryse  G. Bautista,; Ma. Franzel Loudette  H. Bautista,; Ma. Justine Margarette  N. Bautista,; Renz Cristoffer  S. Belleca,; Hale Jo-Jariz  B. Besiño,; Mary Anthonette  B. Binongcal,; Richelle Riche  S. Bool,; Vinna Marie  Tenorio-Quiñones,

COVID-19 Vaccination: The Greater Manila Experience 2021

Abstract:

Introduction Almost half of adult Filipinos were unwilling to receive the COVID-19 vaccination in early 2021. This study aimed to describe the COVID-19 vaccination experience in the Greater Manila Area. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study design was done where Filipinos aged 18-60 years old residing in the Greater Manila Area answered an online survey. Fisher’s exact test was used to compute p-values for the association between participants’ willingness or refusal to get vaccinated and their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Results Among 1,248 respondents, 97.92% were willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The majority who refused strongly agreed that the vaccine could cause serious side effects (46.2%). Being a college graduate (OR = 3.03, p = 0.006) and high income (OR = 5.06, p = 0.003) had a statistically significant positive association with willingness to get vaccinated. Conclusion There are more individuals willing to get vaccinated and there is a statistically significant association between educational attainment and monthly income with vaccine willingness or refusal.