Table 3. Beliefs and attitudes* toward Ebola, the Ebola vaccine, and vaccines in general, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2021.
| Question | Strongly Agree | Agree | Neutral | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | Unsure/Declined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) (N = 631) | ||||||
| BELIEFS | ||||||
| EVD is a serious and potentially fatal disease | 431 (68.3) | 138 (21.9) | 17 (2.7) | 15 (2.4) | 13 (2.1) | 17 (2.7) |
| The vaccine is needed to prevent disease spread during an outbreak | 285 (45.2) | 214 (33.9) | 44 (7.0) | 34 (5.4) | 26 (4.1) | 28 (4.4) |
| Vaccination prevents Ebola Virus Disease | 164 (23.0) | 188 (29.8) | 72 (11.4) | 126 (20.0) | 44 (7.0) | 37 (5.9) |
| The vaccine reduces disease severity | 232 (26.8) | 220 (34.9) | 55 (8.7) | 49 (7.8) | 33 (5.2) | 42 (6.7) |
| The vaccine has severe side effects | 173 (27.4) | 229 (36.3) | 70 (11.1) | 70 (11.1) | 38 (6.0) | 51 (8.1) |
| I think I am now at risk of contracting Ebola | 56 (8.9) | 137 (21.7) | 116 (18.4) | 172 (27.3) | 78 (12.4) | 72 (11.4) |
| ATTITUDES | ||||||
| Ebola Vaccine | ||||||
| I wanted to be vaccinated when the vaccine was available in my community | 150 (23.8) | 214 (33.9) | 55 (8.7) | 108 (17.1) | 85 (13.5) | 19 (3.0) |
| Getting vaccinated makes me feel I don’t need to take other precautions to protect myself against Ebola | 33 (5.2) | 46 (7.3) | 0 (54) | 240 (38.0) | 226 (35.8) | 32 (5.1) |
| Many people were vaccinated in my community | 239 (37.9) | 246 (39.0) | 33 (5.2) | 38 (6.0) | 25 (4.0) | 50 (7.9) |
| I did not trust the vaccination team | 90 (14.3) | 133 (21.1) | 98 (15.5) | 185 (29.3) | 92 (14.6) | 33 (5.2) |
| I did not trust the vaccine source or how the vaccine was given | 103 (16.3) | 142 (22.5) | 115 (18.2) | 148 (23.5) | 79 (12.5) | 44 (7.0) |
| Vaccines in General | ||||||
| Insecurity prevents me from accessing vaccines or other health services | 29 (4.6) | 66 (10.5) | 77 (12.2) | 412 (65.3) | 0 (0) | 47 (7.5) |
| I do not trust the government to make decisions about vaccines | 94 (14.9) | 117 (18.5) | 121 (19.2) | 148 (23.5) | 101 (16.0) | 50 (7.9) |
| New vaccines pose more risk | 134 (21.2) | 138 (21.9) | 110 (17.4) | 76 (12.0) | 60 (9.5) | 113 (17.9) |
*Based on Likert scale questions.