Global disparities in COVID-19 vaccine booster dose (VBD) acceptance and hesitancy: An updated narrative review

• Published in: Vaccine: X 2024-06, Vol.18, p.100480, Article 100480
• Main Authors: Roy, Debendra Nath, Ferdiousi, Nowrin, Mohabbot Hossen, Md, Islam, Ekramul, Shah Azam, Md
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acceptance; Global, COVID-19; Hesitancy; Vaccine booster
• ISSN: 2590-1362; 2590-1362
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2024.100480

•Disparities in the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses (VBDs) were reported among various subpopulation groups with substantial geographical variability.•Globally, numerous antecedents, such as safety, efficacy, effectiveness, and post-vaccination side effects, were more stable and significant predictors of VBD acceptance.•The success of country-wide booster vaccination programs largely depends on public health compliance and a collaborative approach.•Health policy makers must consider a variety of factors that could affect public decisions about receiving a COVID-19 booster vaccine. The global deployment of COVID-19 vaccine booster dose (VBD) has been recognized as a promising therapeutic alliance to provide repeated immunity against the arrival of new variants. Despite scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of periodic doses, COVID-19 vaccine booster reluctance continues to thrive. This narrative review aimed to examine global COVID-19 vaccine booster dose (VBD) acceptance and summarize an up-to-date assessment of potential antecedents associated with VBD acceptance. A comprehensive search was performed in several reputable databases such as Medline (via PubMed), Scopus, Google scholar, and Web of Science from June 10th, 2023, to August 1st, 2023. All relevant descriptive and observational studies on COVID-19 VBD acceptance and hesitancy were included in this review. A total of fifty-eight (58) studies were included, with Asia representing the highest count with thirty-one (53%) studies, Europe with eleven (19 %), the United States with nine (16 %), and other regions (Africa and multi-ethnic) with seven (12 %). Worldwide, the pooled COVID-19 VBD acceptance rate was 77.09 % (95 % CI: 76.28–78.18), VBD willingness (n) = 164189, and the total sample (N) = 212,990. The highest and the lowest VBD acceptance rate was reported in Europe and American regions, respectively, 85.38 % (95 % CI: 85.02–85.73, (n) = 32,047, (N = 37,533) vs. 66.92 % (95 % CI: 66.56–67.4), (n) = 29335, (N) = 43,832. However, Asia and multi-ethnic areas reported moderately high VBD acceptance rate 79.13 % (95 % CI: 78.77–79.23, (n) = 93,994, (N) = 11,8779) and 72.16 % (95 % CI: 71.13–72.93, (n) = 9276, (N) = 12,853), respectively. The most common and key antecedents ofCOVID-19 VBD acceptance and hesitancyacross the countries were “equal safety”, “efficacy”, “effectiveness”, “post-vaccination side effects”, “communityprotection” “family protection”, “risk-benefit ratio”,