UNIZIK JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HUMAN RELATIONS

This study explored the perception and reception of the COVID-19 vaccine among the traders of the Abakaliki International market, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, focusing on the influence of the Igbo religious/cultural thought system of disease and healing. Using qualitative methods, the study explored the beliefs, attitudes, and practices surrounding the vaccine within the Igbo community. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select a sample size of 70 respondents comprising shop occupants of the market. Data collected from the structured interviews were analyzed using MS Excel Spreadsheet and the hermeneutic (interpretative) method. Findings reveal that a complex interplay of Igbo religious and cultural beliefs, perceptions of disease and healing, and little trust in modern medicine influences the poor reception of the vaccine. The key factors determining the population’s acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine were identified. Overall, the study showed that the Igbo people of the country have a long-held cultural and religious understanding of disease and healing that influences their reception of recent medical advances like the vaccine. This study contributes to the understanding of vaccine hesitancy in culturally diverse contexts and highlights the importance of considering cultural factors in public health interventions.

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