COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among the Adult Population in Bangladesh: A Nationally Representative Cross-sectional Survey

IntroductionThe study related to the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is scanty in the context of Bangladesh, despite the growing necessity of understanding the mass people’s vaccination-related behavior. Thus, the present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors in Bangladesh to fill the knowledge gap.MethodologyThis study adopted a cross-sectional study design to collect data from 1497 respondents using online (Google forms) and face-to-face interviews. We employed descriptive statistics and multiple hierarchical linear regression analysis.FindingsThe prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was 41.1%. Men had less hesitancy (β = -0.046, p = 0.030) than women. The Muslims (β = 0.057, p = 0.009) and the respondents living in the city corporation areas (β = 0.132, p ConclusionThis study emphasizes that negative attitudes and conspiracies towards the COVID-19 vaccine should be reduced through effective communications and contracting with additional vaccine manufacturers should be prioritized. The barriers like online registration for receiving the COVID-19 vaccination need to be removed, and initiatives like text message service using the mobile phone operator can be introduced.HighlightsAbout 41% of the respondents had had hesitancy to accept the COVID-19 vaccine.The hesitancy increased with negative attitudes about vaccines and conspiracy beliefs.Perceived barriers to receive the vaccine were increasing vaccine hesitancy.Perceived severity of the COVID-19 decreased the vaccine hesitancy.Perceived benefits of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine decreased the vaccine hesitancy.