A Comparison of Strategies to Improve Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine among High-Risk Adults in Nairobi, Kenya in 2022
Background: COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Kenya is still low compared to other countries, especially in Europe and North America. In most parts of the country, a large percentage of the Kenyan population remains unvaccinated. As of October 2022, the Ministry of Health (Kenya) estimates that only 36.2%...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/2/209 |
| _version_ | 1797617956986814464 |
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| author | Joan Yego Robert Korom Emma Eriksson Sharon Njavika Oulimata Sane Purity Kanorio Oliver Rotich Stellah Wambui Eunice Mureithi |
| author_facet | Joan Yego Robert Korom Emma Eriksson Sharon Njavika Oulimata Sane Purity Kanorio Oliver Rotich Stellah Wambui Eunice Mureithi |
| author_sort | Joan Yego |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Kenya is still low compared to other countries, especially in Europe and North America. In most parts of the country, a large percentage of the Kenyan population remains unvaccinated. As of October 2022, the Ministry of Health (Kenya) estimates that only 36.2% of the adult population had been fully vaccinated. Methods: We conducted an experimental study in April 2022 targeting unvaccinated adults who had a history of hypertension and/or diabetes and those in the 60+ age group. We tested various messaging approaches using two different intervention channels. Results: Although the overall rate of vaccinated individuals according to national records is low, responses from the study group collected through phone call conversations show that higher-risk adults such as those older than 60 or those with chronic illnesses have a remarkably high vaccination rate of 89%. After the study, four participants received a COVID-19 vaccine within 1 month of the intervention. These four participants all received a loss-messaging intervention approach during the study. Conclusion: This study supports a national approach to increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates using loss-messaging directed at unvaccinated, high-risk individuals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:03:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e5beec5dce9d4c35a376fecf05ef71d7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:03:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-e5beec5dce9d4c35a376fecf05ef71d72023-11-16T23:41:14ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2023-01-0111220910.3390/vaccines11020209A Comparison of Strategies to Improve Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine among High-Risk Adults in Nairobi, Kenya in 2022Joan Yego0Robert Korom1Emma Eriksson2Sharon Njavika3Oulimata Sane4Purity Kanorio5Oliver Rotich6Stellah Wambui7Eunice Mureithi8Penda Health Ltd., Nairobi P.O. Box 22647-00100, KenyaPenda Health Ltd., Nairobi P.O. Box 22647-00100, KenyaDalberg Advisors, Nairobi P.O. Box 100657-00100, KenyaDalberg Advisors, Nairobi P.O. Box 100657-00100, KenyaDalberg Advisors, Nairobi P.O. Box 100657-00100, KenyaPenda Health Ltd., Nairobi P.O. Box 22647-00100, KenyaPenda Health Ltd., Nairobi P.O. Box 22647-00100, KenyaPenda Health Ltd., Nairobi P.O. Box 22647-00100, KenyaPenda Health Ltd., Nairobi P.O. Box 22647-00100, KenyaBackground: COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Kenya is still low compared to other countries, especially in Europe and North America. In most parts of the country, a large percentage of the Kenyan population remains unvaccinated. As of October 2022, the Ministry of Health (Kenya) estimates that only 36.2% of the adult population had been fully vaccinated. Methods: We conducted an experimental study in April 2022 targeting unvaccinated adults who had a history of hypertension and/or diabetes and those in the 60+ age group. We tested various messaging approaches using two different intervention channels. Results: Although the overall rate of vaccinated individuals according to national records is low, responses from the study group collected through phone call conversations show that higher-risk adults such as those older than 60 or those with chronic illnesses have a remarkably high vaccination rate of 89%. After the study, four participants received a COVID-19 vaccine within 1 month of the intervention. These four participants all received a loss-messaging intervention approach during the study. Conclusion: This study supports a national approach to increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates using loss-messaging directed at unvaccinated, high-risk individuals.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/2/209COVID-19high-risk groupsvaccine uptake interventionsKenya |
| spellingShingle | Joan Yego Robert Korom Emma Eriksson Sharon Njavika Oulimata Sane Purity Kanorio Oliver Rotich Stellah Wambui Eunice Mureithi A Comparison of Strategies to Improve Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine among High-Risk Adults in Nairobi, Kenya in 2022 Vaccines COVID-19 high-risk groups vaccine uptake interventions Kenya |
| title | A Comparison of Strategies to Improve Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine among High-Risk Adults in Nairobi, Kenya in 2022 |
| title_full | A Comparison of Strategies to Improve Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine among High-Risk Adults in Nairobi, Kenya in 2022 |
| title_fullStr | A Comparison of Strategies to Improve Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine among High-Risk Adults in Nairobi, Kenya in 2022 |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Comparison of Strategies to Improve Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine among High-Risk Adults in Nairobi, Kenya in 2022 |
| title_short | A Comparison of Strategies to Improve Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine among High-Risk Adults in Nairobi, Kenya in 2022 |
| title_sort | comparison of strategies to improve uptake of covid 19 vaccine among high risk adults in nairobi kenya in 2022 |
| topic | COVID-19 high-risk groups vaccine uptake interventions Kenya |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/2/209 |
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