Correspondence: Risk perception of COVID-19 and vaccine uptake among patients with chronic illnesses at a tertiary health facility in Nigeria

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Dear Editor,

This is a response to published research on “The risk perception of COVID-19 and vaccine uptake among patients with chronic illnesses at a tertiary health facility in Nigeria.1” Studies on the risk perception of COVID-19 vaccination among chronically ill patients in tertiary care centres provide useful information. However, several methodological issues have emerged, limiting its effectiveness, particularly in the Nigerian context. This is especially true for how risk perception affects vaccination uptake. Can the authors explain how they expect to demonstrate causation in future studies? Longitudinal designs may be more suited to tracking changes in attitudes and behaviours over time, particularly if new information on COVID-19 and its vaccines becomes available.

The sampling methods employed include basic random sampling and proportional distribution. However, the inclusion criteria for this study raise concerns regarding possible bias. How does this group, who also suffers from chronic conditions, influence general awareness of vaccination and risk perception?

The findings show that COVID-19 vaccinations are being taken up. More than two-thirds of respondents have had vaccination experience; however, vaccine hesitation is attributed to a fear of the unknown and concern about adverse effects. More thorough qualitative data could help researchers better understand immunisation hurdles. Furthermore, the discovery that marital status increases the chance of immunisation is intriguing. or inhibits vaccination.

Future research may examine the effect of community engagement and public health campaigns on vaccine acceptability as new virus types and vaccines are introduced. It will be critical to monitor changes in risk perception and vaccination uptake over time. By considering these shift factors, public health efforts may be better targeted to patients' needs and concerns. This will eventually lead to higher vaccination rates and better health outcomes for these vulnerable populations.