Good Participatory Practice, Clinical Trials Awareness and COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Sub-Sahara Africa

Bernadette Ateghang-Awankem^1, , Laura DeLuca², Edwin Shadzeka³ and Kenneth Yongabi Anchang⁴

¹Menda Health Systems, African Women 4 Empowerment, Nussloch, Germany

²Instructor in Math, Social Science and Statistics First Year Academic Experience, University of Colorado-Boulder

³Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Business, George Washington University, Washington, D.C

⁴Faculty of Health Science, College of Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria

Cite this paper

Bernadette Ateghang-Awankem, Laura DeLuca, Edwin Shadzeka and Kenneth Yongabi Anchang. Good Participatory Practice, Clinical Trials Awareness and COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Sub-Sahara Africa. American Journal of Public Health Research. 2021; 9(3):90-95. doi: 10.12691/AJPHR-9-3-1

Abstract

The success stories regarding the availability of at least 4 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines showing efficacy rates of about 90%, barely 10 months after the sequence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was made available by China and 8 months after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 pandemic, is an incredible scientific and technological achievement. Clear and consistent communication by the pharmaceutical industry, national and regional medicinal agencies, and government officials is key to building public confidence in vaccine programs. In addition, community-based care with community health workers will increase efficacy. This includes clinical trials and regulatory process awareness campaign. Additionally, strategic campaigns should also address COVID-19 vaccine-related issues: Vaccine’s level of efficacy, number of shots/doses needed, the time needed for protection, vaccine up-take, and herd immunity. Implementing the principles of good participatory practice and stakeholder engagement prior to market launch, is essential, to improve vaccine acceptance.

Keywords

stakeholder engagement, COVID-19, clinical trials, vaccine acceptance

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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