INVITATION

You are kindly invited to participate in a survey on COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana. The survey will take less than 10 minutes and your responses would be used for research purposes only. Many thanks in advance and kindly pass it on to your friends and associates to participate also.

A survey titled (COVID-VAC) may be sent via sms to you. Kindly do not participate in that survey if you have already participated in this whatsapp survey titled "Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccines in Ghana". Thank you.

INVESTIGATORS

1. Dr. Paul Owusu-Oduro, Gamma Health Consult, Accra.

2. Dr. Jubin Osei-Mensah, Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi.

3. Dr. Joshua Arthur, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi.

4. Rev'd. Fr. Prof. Kwamena W. C. Sagoe, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra.

Please direct all enquiries in relation to this questionnaire to the following email addresses:

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE STUDY

The study hopes to determine the level of acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines for mass vaccination and the willingness of the Ghanaian population to participate in a clinical trial for a future COVID-19 candidate vaccine.

The COVID-19 disease, which is caused by SARS-CoV-2, is spread through infectious droplets and aerosols from an infected person through the mouth, nose and eyes and by indirect contact with surfaces contaminated with infectious droplets.

The development of vaccines may help reduce transmission, morbidity, and mortality caused by the virus by providing protection to the susceptible or vulnerable population. Any vaccine candidate produced must be taken through clinical trials to ensure that it is safe and offers adequate protection. A clinical trial typically goes through four (4) phases;

PHASE I:

Usually test the vaccine candidate for the first time in a small group of people to evaluate a safe dosage range and identify side effects.

PHASE II:

Test vaccines that have been found to be safe in phase I but now in a larger group of human subjects to monitor for any adverse effects.

PHASE III:

Conduct trials for larger populations and in different regions and countries. This phase is especially important as it takes into consideration biological variations among the human population.

PHASE IV:

Takes place after country approval to identify rare side effects and other unanticipated effects at the population level.

A few vaccines have already been authorized for emergency use. This study seeks to assess issues of acceptance and awareness around vaccine development in general, and COVID-19 specifically, amongst the Ghanaian population. This may help provide information for future vaccine development and community entry for mass vaccination.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Responses provided will be confidential and used for the purposes of this research only. No identifying variable will be collected or stored so your identity is protected.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

This study has been approved by the Scientific and Technical Committee (STC) of the Korle Bu Teaching hospital – Protocol ID No. KBTH-STC 00012/2021

PARTICIPANTS CONSENT AND RIGHT TO WITHDRAW

Participation in this study is absolutely voluntary. You can choose to withdraw at any stage during the filling of the questionnaire. Your submission of the questionnaire will be taken as consent to participate fully in this study. However, we encourage you to participate as your information will be useful in the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines.

THIS SURVEY WILL TAKE A MAXIMUM TIME OF 10 MINUTES TO COMPLETE

* Required

PLEASE ACCEPT