KNOWLEDGE ON VACCINE COVID-19: OVERCOMING HESITANCY THROUGH EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA

Abstract

The success of Malaysia’s large-scale National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme campaigns is dependent on people’s willingness to be vaccinated. However, the classic situation of vaccine hesitancy persists, with numerous reasons contributing to it, particularly knowledge of the vaccine itself. Considering that Terengganu is among the lowest vaccination rates, this article explores whether knowledge correlates with vaccine hesitancy. Six key informant interviews were tape-recorded in Terengganu, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically to uncover the factors contributing to the lack of COVID-19 immunisation knowledge. We observed two main themes about the Terengganu people’s lack of knowledge: (1) the digital divide and (2) the literacy gap. Another factor contributing to the lack of knowledge and rise of positive COVID-19 cases was the dissemination of post-vaccine information. We suggest that effective vaccine communication efforts should target vaccine sceptics (women, young adults, low-income people, and people living in rural areas), highlighting immunisation’s immediate health, social, and economic benefits.