OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to describe the current vaccine acceptance landscape in Nigeria and to evaluate factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance uptake in Nigeria.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which participants aged 18 and above provided their socio-demographic information, perceived threats and exposure to COVID-19, perception about vaccines, and willingness to receive COVID vaccine through a web-based questionnaire with validated instruments. Oral interview was conducted for participants who are not able to use the internet. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the distribution of participants and multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the odds of participant’s willingness to receive the vaccine given the participant’s characteristics described above.

RESULTS: Majority (70.1%) of respondents had not received the vaccine and only 40.5% of them reported that they are willing to receive the vaccine. About half (52.6%) of respondents reported that were at high risk of COVID-19 and about one-third (67.0%) reported that vaccines are safe and effective. Only having COVID in the past showed a statistically significant association with willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccine (OR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.369-1.076)

CONCLUSIONS: Vaccine acceptance is still low and only those who had COVID are likely to receive the vaccine. There is need for increased sensitization of the public to the importance of receiving the vaccine to contain the disease on a global scale.