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September 16, 2024
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December 24, 2024
Published
December 26, 2024
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Abstract

Background: Vaccination programs are critical in controlling the spread of viral diseases worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role of vaccines. Achieving widespread immunization is significantly challenged by vaccine hesitancy, particularly concerns regarding potential risks. The perceptions of Kenyans regarding the risks of COVID-19 vaccines were explored in this scoping review.


Methods: The Arksey and O’Malley framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology were used. A search strategy was developed to identify peer-reviewed publications and relevant grey literature from electronic databases and Google. Identified articles were screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was extracted from and analyzed to identify themes.


Results: Twenty-eight articles were included in the scoping review. The most common themes leading to vaccine hesitancy among Kenyans were vaccine safety, vaccine side effects, and lack of knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines. Four other themes were identified and discussed.


Conclusion: This review adds to our understanding of the factors influencing vaccine hesitancy during public health emergencies in Kenya. Public health messaging should prioritize addressing these concerns while also advocating for equitable access to the benefits of vaccination.

Keywords

COVID-19 Vaccine Risk Vaccine Hesitancy Kenya Scoping Review

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Copyright (c) 2024 Faith Anyango Ochieng’, Dónal O'Mathuna

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

Faith Anyango Ochieng’, University of Nairobi, Kenya

Faith Anyango Ochieng’ is currently a researcher with various consortiums. She holds a Master's degree in Public Health and a Postgraduate Diploma in One Health and Research Ethics. She has many years of experience in Human Rights, Governance, Development, and more recently, Research Ethics. Her research interests lie in the ethical engagement of communities in research, which helps improve the quality of research outcomes. She also has a strong interest in environmental rights and their significance in One Health Ethics.

Dónal O'Mathuna, The Ohio State University, USA

Dónal O’Mathúna, PhD, is an associate professor at the Ohio State University’s College of Nursing and the Center for Bioethics. His research focuses on ethics in disaster situations and humanitarian crises, with a special emphasis on research ethics. He spearheads funded projects developing research ethics training at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and another project that investigates research ethics in wartime settings. He has contributed to ethics initiatives with WHO and UNICEF,  authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, and co-edited several books. 

How to Cite
Ochieng’, F. A., & O’Mathuna, D. (2024). Kenyans’ Perceptions of the Risks of COVID-19 Vaccines: A Scoping Review. Pan-African Journal of Health and Environmental Science, 3(2), 21–38. https://doi.org/10.56893/ajhes2024v03i02.02
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