{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T09:01:24Z","timestamp":1785402084871,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"AOSIS","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,18]],"date-time":"2025-04-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1744934400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background:\u00a0COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and acceptance remain critical public health concerns, influenced by socio-cultural factors globally. Social influence \u2013 particularly conformity, compliance and obedience \u2013 influence vaccination intentions, decisions and behaviours based on the information circulated by the people already vaccinated. Understanding these dynamics is essential for promotion vaccine uptake through reassuring the hesitant about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.\n\nAim:\u00a0We explored the influence of social influence on COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and acceptance in Tanzania.\n\nSetting:\u00a0Our study was conducted in eight regions of Mainland Tanzania: Arusha, Morogoro, Mtwara, Njombe, Mbeya, Tabora, Singida and Shinyanga, to represent eight zones of Mainland Tanzania.\n\nMethods:\u00a0We adopted a mixed-methods research approach, to collect data from 3098 respondents for a quantitative part, and 336 key informants as well as 376 participants for focus group discussions. Data analysis involved both descriptive and inferential statistics for quantitative data as well as thematic analysis for qualitative data.\n\nResults:\u00a0There was regional variation in vaccination rates, with Mtwara and Singida showing high acceptance at 50% and 49.7%, respectively, while Morogoro (22.5%) and Mbeya (26.2%) showed lower rates. Social influence, especially friends, family, and community discussions, and trust in the government as a reliable source of information regarding the COVID-19 vaccination were key. Changes in the Tanzanian government\u2019s political will also contributed to positive attitudes regarding COVID-19 vaccination acceptance.\n\nConclusion:\u00a0Social influence influenced COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in Tanzania, requiring tailored public health strategies involving the government, trusted community figures and considering social ties and social interaction to boost vaccination rates.\n\nContribution:\u00a0Our study offers insights on the critical role of social influence on COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and acceptance; hence, a necessity for socio-cultural context-specific and participatory interventions in a quest to reduce COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and improve acceptance in the Tanzanian context.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4102\/jphia.v16i3.704","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,15]],"date-time":"2025-04-15T05:21:01Z","timestamp":1744694461000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["The role of social influence on COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and acceptance in Tanzania"],"prefix":"10.4102","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0827-3436","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Magolanga","family":"Shagembe","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/0479aed98","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Dar es Salaam"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5044-553X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chima E.","family":"Onuekwe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/02r6pfc06","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Nnamdi Azikiwe University"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6666-2101","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Egidius","family":"Kamanyi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/0479aed98","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Dar es Salaam"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7104-6845","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ambrose T.","family":"Kessy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/009n8zh45","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"The University of Dodoma"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-3516-5430","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tumaini","family":"Haonga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7849-5985","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"William M.","family":"Mwengee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2580","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"G\u00fcner R, Hasano\u011flu \u0130, Akta\u015f F. COVID-19: Prevention and control measures in community. Turk J Med Sci. 2020;50:571\u2013577. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3906\/sag-2004-146","DOI":"10.3906\/sag-2004-146"},{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dadras O, Alinaghi SAS, Karimi A, et al. Effects of COVID-19 prevention procedures on other common infections: A systematic review. Eur J Med Res. 2021;26(1):67. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s40001-021-00539-1","DOI":"10.1186\/s40001-021-00539-1"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brown P, Waite F, Larkin M, et al. \u201cIt seems impossible that it\u2019s been made so quickly\u201d: A qualitative investigation of concerns about the speed of COVID-19 vaccine development and how these may be overcome. Hum Vaccine Immunother. 2022;18:1\u20138. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/21645515.2021.2004808","DOI":"10.1080\/21645515.2021.2004808"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Makoni M. Tanzania refuses COVID-19 vaccines. Lancet. 2021;397(10724):566. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/s0140-6736(21)00362-7","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(21)00362-7"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mfinanga SG, Mnyambwa NP, Minja DT, et al. Tanzania\u2019s position on the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet. 2021;397(10284):1542\u20131543. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/s0140-6736(21)00678-4","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(21)00678-4"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Myumbo L. This is why Magufuli was right to be COVID-19 vaccine-Hesitant: Lessons for responses to future pandemics. J Philos Ethics. 2023;5(1):26\u201337. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.22259\/2642-8415.0501004","DOI":"10.22259\/2642-8415.0501004"},{"key":"ref6","unstructured":"Kaijage JM, Josephine L. Public perceptions of COVID-19 vaccine efficacy among urban dwellers in Tanzania \u2013 A case of Temeke Municipal, Research Report 2023\/09. Dar es Salaam: REPOA; 2023."},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chilongola JO, Rwegoshola KM, Balingumu OH, Semvua HS, Kwigizile ET. COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes, practices, and vaccination hesitancy in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region, Northern Tanzania. Tanzania J Health Res. 2022;23(1):1\u201312.","DOI":"10.4314\/thrb.v23i1.3"},{"key":"ref8","unstructured":"From below 10 to 51 percent \u2013 Tanzania increases COVID-19 vaccination coverage | WHO | Regional Office for Africa [homepage on the Internet]. WHO | Regional Office for Africa; 2023 [cited 2024 Nov 19]. Available from: https:\/\/afro.who.int\/countries\/united-republic-of-tanzania\/news\/below-10-51-percent-tanzania-increases-covid-19-vaccination-coverage"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dodd RH, Pickles K, Nickel B, et al. Concerns and motivations about COVID-19 vaccination. Lancet Infect Dis. 2021;21(2):161\u201363. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/S1473-3099(20)30926-9","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(20)30926-9"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Konje ET, Basinda N, Kapesa A, et al. The coverage and acceptance spectrum of COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare professionals in Western Tanzania: What can we learn from this pandemic? Vaccines. 2022;10(9):1429. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/vaccines10091429","DOI":"10.3390\/vaccines10091429"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Anand U, Jakhmola S, Indari O, et al. Potential therapeutic targets and vaccine development for SARS-CoV-2\/COVID-19 pandemic management: A review on the recent update. Front Immunol. 2021;12:658519. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fimmu.2021.658519","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2021.658519"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pandher R, Bilszta JLC. Novel COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and acceptance, and associated factors, amongst medical students: A scoping review. Med Educ Online. 2023;28:2175620. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10872981.2023.2175620","DOI":"10.1080\/10872981.2023.2175620"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Moussa\u00efd M, K\u00e4mmer JE, Analytis PP, Neth H. Social influence and the collective dynamics of opinion formation. PLoS One. 2013;8(11):e78433. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0078433","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0078433"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nossier SA. Vaccine hesitancy: The greatest threat to COVID-19 vaccination programs. J Egyptian Public Health Assoc 2021;96:18. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s42506-021-00081-2","DOI":"10.1186\/s42506-021-00081-2"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hassan W, Kazmi SK, Tahir MJ, et al. Global acceptance and hesitancy of COVID-19 vaccination: A narrative review. Narra J. 2021;1(3):e57. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.52225\/narra.v1i3.57","DOI":"10.52225\/narra.v1i3.57"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dhandapani JP, Subburayan D. Myths and facts about COVID-19: The pandemic. Pondicherry J Nurs. 2021;14:46\u201347. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5005\/jp-journals-10084-13101","DOI":"10.5005\/jp-journals-10084-13101"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Asch SE. Studies of independence and conformity: I. A minority of one against a unanimous majority. Psychol Monogr Gen Appl. 1956;70(9):1\u201370. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/h0093718","DOI":"10.1037\/h0093718"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Guner R, Hasanoglu I, Aktas F. COVID-19: Prevention and control measures in community. Turk J Med Sci. 2020;50(9):571\u2013577.","DOI":"10.3906\/sag-2004-146"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Asch S. Studies of independence and conformity: I.A minority of one against a unanimous majority. Psychol Monogr Gen Appl. 1956;70(9):1\u201370.","DOI":"10.1037\/h0093718"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bingham K. The UK government\u2019s vaccine taskforce: Strategy for protecting the UK and the world. Lancet. 2021;397(10268):68\u201370. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/s0140-6736(20)32175-9","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(20)32175-9"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pei R, Cosme D, Andrews ME, Mattan BD, Falk E. Cultural influence on COVID-19 cognitions and growth speed: The role of cultural collectivism. PsyArXiv [Preprint]. 2020. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.31234\/osf.io\/fet6z","DOI":"10.31234\/osf.io\/fet6z"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Larson HJ, Jarrett C, Eckersberger E, Smith DM, Paterson P. Understanding vaccine hesitancy around vaccines and vaccination from a global perspective: A systematic review of published literature, 2007\u20132012. Vaccine. 2014;32(19):2150\u20132159. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.vaccine.2014.01.081","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2014.01.081"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Al-mohaithef M & Padhi BK. Determinants of COVID19 vaccine acceptance in Saudi Arabia: A web-based national survey. J Multidiscip Healthc. 2020;13:1657\u20131663. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2147\/JMDH.S276771","DOI":"10.2147\/JMDH.S276771"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Badur S, Ota M, \u00d6zt\u00fcrk S, Adegbola R, Dutta A. Vaccine confidence: The keys to restoring trust. Hum Vaccines Immunotherap. 2020;16(5):1007\u20131017. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/21645515.2020.1740559","DOI":"10.1080\/21645515.2020.1740559"},{"key":"ref25","unstructured":"World Health Organization (WHO). Ten threats to global health in 2019 [homepage on the Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019 [cited 2024 Oct 12]. Available from: https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/spotlight\/ten-threats-to-global-health-in-2019"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dub\u00e9 E, Laberge C, Guay M, Bramadat P, Roy R, Bettinger JA. Vaccine hesitancy: an overview. Hum Vaccines Immunotherap. 2013;9(8):1763\u20131773. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4161\/hv.24657","DOI":"10.4161\/hv.24657"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Salali GD, Uysal MS, Bozyel G, Akpinar E, Aksu A. Does social influence affect COVID-19 vaccination intention among the unvaccinated? Evol Hum Sci. 2022;11(4):e32. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/ehs.2022.29","DOI":"10.1017\/ehs.2022.29"}],"container-title":["Journal of Public Health in Africa"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/publichealthinafrica.org\/index.php\/jphia\/article\/view\/704\/1794","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T14:44:53Z","timestamp":1781707493000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/publichealthinafrica.org\/index.php\/jphia\/article\/view\/704"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,18]]},"references-count":28,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,1]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/jphia.v16i3.704","relation":{},"ISSN":["2038-9922","2038-9930"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2038-9922","type":"print"},{"value":"2038-9930","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,18]]},"article-number":"a704"}}