Table 2 Illustrative quotes for COVID-19-, COVID-19 vaccine/vaccination-, the vaccination process/system-, and family-group-other individual-related determinants of COVID-19 vaccination acceptance

COVID-19-related factors

1

‘You know, if it is coming [COVID-19 is spreading] and you are looking at your neighbour and it is killing that person, you will see people running to go and take it [COVID-19 vaccination].’ (Male FGD 1)

2

‘It is because we have not been seeing those killed by COVID-19, that is why some people say there is no disease like that [and are not getting vaccinated].’ (Male FGD 1)

3

‘I have not seen anyone killed by it [COVID-19] so there is no point going to take the vaccination. Assuming we have seen the infected persons, maybe your relatives, you will become fearful and you will be asking about where they are taking it [COVID-19 vaccination] and will be eager to go and take the vaccination. Just like when hepatitis B came, we all saw it and how it was killing people, we became afraid and rushed to take the vaccination then. What we will be hearing is that it [COVID-19] is killing people but we have not seen.’ (Female FGD 4)

4

‘The reason why I took the [COVID-19] vaccination was because of the news we have been hearing about COVID-19, that if it did not kill here today, it kills there today, today it is here, tomorrow it is there.’ (Female FGD 8)

5

‘My reason, why I decided to go and take the [COVID-19] vaccination was the moment I started hearing how COVID-19 was killing people in other countries. When I heard the vaccine was in Nigeria, that was when I went and took my own. Since COVID-19 is transferable, I decided to go and take the vaccination because the speed at which it was spreading was scaring, … So, instead of me to wait for it, I had to go and take it so that if it spreads to Ebonyi state, I will not be infected. So, that was why I went to take it, although, I have not seen anyone with COVID-19.’ (Female FGD 7)

COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination-related factors

6

‘Unfortunately for me, I became ill for about two weeks after taking the [COVID-19] vaccination. Later, I went for the second dose which did not disturb me like the first dose. And I believe the side-effect is one of the reasons people are scared of taking the vaccination.’ (Female FGD 6)

7

‘Even I had a brother that took it [COVID-19 vaccination], he came home after taking the vaccination and started reacting as if he was epileptic. The wife was forced to call the nurse that gave him that vaccination. … He (the nurse) asked us to give him milk. So, all those experiences [of severe side-effects] can easily scare people away from taking it.’ (Female FGD 6)

8

‘I think it is because of the side-effects people have after taking the [COVID-19] vaccination. You know some people, like, after taking the vaccination, they develop other sicknesses. Maybe that is why some people do not want to take it.’ (Male FGD 1)

9

‘There was this vaccinated person I heard about in another country who got infected with COVID-19 … So, in that sense, I feel the COVID-19 vaccination is not as protective [as effective] as they said.’ (Female FGD 6)

10

‘… no one [that I know in our community] has said he/she had any serious side-effects after taking the COVID-19 vaccination, that is my reason for taking it.’ (Female FGD 8)

COVID-19 vaccination process and system-related factors

11

‘They have not brought it [COVID-19 vaccine] to this our place. It is not about telling us to go and take it, they have not brought it here [they should bring the vaccine here].’ (Female FGD 9)

12

‘For me, I would have taken the [COVID-19] vaccination but when they were giving the vaccination, I relocated from that place to another place and discovered they were not giving the vaccination there.’ (Female FGD 8)

13

‘… if I am close to the place they are giving the [COVID-19] vaccination, I will take it. But if I am not close to the place, it will take me time [to take it].’ (Female FGD 8)

14

‘There are people that if it [COVID-19 vaccination outreaches] fall on the days they are going to farm, they will not go and take it.’ (Female FGD 9)

15

‘Also, some people are been misinformed about the place [and time] where the vaccination is taking place. Misinformation is part of why many have not received the vaccination.’ (Male FGD 2)

Family, group, and other individual-related factors

16

‘But I felt sick the first day I took the [COVID-19] vaccination. I took it because my mother took it and my mother asked me to go and take it. Then I felt sick and I could not raise my hand and was unable to do anything with the hand. So, the next day I had to go to the hospital. So, I do not know if it is safe, and I have not seen a COVID-19 patient before. So, according to what they [vaccinated family members who had no serious side-effects] said, I believe the vaccine is safe.’ (Female FGD 6)

17

‘… when I took my own [COVID-19] vaccination, my cousin saw that I became ill immediately after taking the vaccination and decided not to take it because of the side-effects on me. If not that the father is a medical doctor and made it compulsory in the family, she would not have taken it, she even begged her mother that they should tell [lie to] her father that she had taken it.’ (Female FGD 6)

18

‘Assuming we have seen the infected persons, maybe your relatives or neighbours, you will become fearful and you will be asking about where they are taking it [COVID-19 vaccination] and will be eager to go and take the vaccination.’ (Female FGD 4)