Predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among Nigerian medical doctors

Background: Since its discovery in late 2019, COVID-19 has claimed approximately three million lives worldwide, causing a significant economic burden and strain on health care delivery and services. Therefore, the COVID-19 vaccine may offer the potential to promote global recovery. Objective: To determine the acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine among Nigerian doctors and the factors influencing the acceptance. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, an anonymous online survey was administered to medical doctors across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria between 13 January and 31 January 2021, using the health belief model (HBM). Results: Out of 830 respondents, 38.8% were willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, 36.0% were unsure, while the remaining 26.5% refused to take the vaccine. Following adjustments, males were more likely to take the vaccine (OR = 3.357; 95% CI 2.009-5.610; p = 0.0001), whereas increasing age, higher perceived viral virulence and perceived viral infectivity were observed to be significantly associated with less likelihood of accepting the vaccine. Respondents who believed in the efficacy of ivermectin were much less likely to receive the vaccine (OR = 0.217; 95% CI 0.108-0.436; p=0.001). Concerns on vaccination safety were the main barriers to vaccine acceptability. Hypothetically addressing these concerns increased vaccine acceptance rates by approximately a third (34.6%) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The proposed nationwide distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine may be met with poor vaccine acceptability among Nigerian medical practitioners. Measures specifically addressing vaccine safety concerns should be provided to allay fears and enhance the acceptability of the vaccine.

Relative Organ Weights and Histological Changes in Wistar Rats Treated with a South East Nigerian Polyherbal Formulation (Ajumbise)

Background and Aim: Ajumbise is a polyherbal formulation used in Southeast Nigeria for enhancing labour, facilitating the expulsion of retained placenta, relieving menstrual and post-delivery pains and promoting involution of the uterus. In this study, the effect of the Polyherbal formulation on body weights, relative organ weights and liver and kidney histology was evaluated.Methods: Forty rats were divided into four groups of ten rats each and were assigned daily oral administration of the extract for 28 days. While group 1 served as the control, groups 2, 3 and 4 were administered increasing doses of the extract. At the end of treatment organs were collected for histological analysis respectively. Students’s t-test at 95% level of significance was used for statistical analysis.Results: Acute toxicity study result indicated zero mortality in all groups within the 24 hours of thestudy, even at a dose of 6000 mg/kg body weight. Body weight gain was significantly lowered in all treatment groups when compared with the control group (P<0.05). Relative liver weight did not significantly differ from that of the control except for the 800 mg/kg treated group where significant elevation was observed (P< 0.05). Relative kidney weights was significantly elevated in groups treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg (P<0.05). No significant histological changes were observed between treatment groups and control except for 800 mg/kg treated group where some inflammatory cells were observed masking the features of the portal triad. The arrangement of the hepatocytes, architecture of the portal triad comprising of the bile duct, hepatic portal vein and hepatic artery and central vein were essentially normal and had neither congestions nor necrosis. Histological presentations of the kidneys in all groups were normal and did not significantly differ from control.Conclusion: We therefore conclude that Ajumbise polyherbal may be safe at low to moderate dosses and at such doses does not pose any threat to the liver and kidney cells.