Table 4 Illustrative quotes for how to increase COVID-19 vaccination acceptance

1

‘Some of the health workers should also be lectured on what the vaccination is all about. The reason is that some of the health workers cannot even explain or educate the people on the reason why they need the vaccination. So, I suggest that proper orientation should be giving to all the health workers in order to carry out the work diligently.’ (Male FGD 2)

2

‘What I want to say is that what government can do is to, because you know this thing is government’s fault because you know you cannot stop those mothers from going to farm, government should give them something [transport fare] they will use to go to the hospital to take the vaccination.’ (Female FGD 9)

3

‘… if they [the government] want to do it well [increase COVID-19 vaccination acceptance], they should pay that COVID-19 loan they promised. If they bring the money, we will take the vaccination, if they do not bring it, someone who is hungry does not take vaccinations.’ (Male FGD 5)

4

‘I want the government to device another means like making it [COVID-19 vaccination ] compulsory … For instance, if they use to issue vaccination card as a confirmation card, that the person should come with the card to any [public] gathering, both in the banks, churches, schools, and markets [as was done regarding the wearing of face mask], as most people like us will always want it done by force, then I will immediately start looking for the health centre [to get vaccinated].’ (Female FGD 4)

5

‘Some people believe that the [COVID-19] vaccine they are given them [in the communities] in not the same as the vaccine that they are showing the pictures or videos of top officials receiving. Why not they bring it down to this level [the level of the people], like [say], if the councilor come in front of everybody and take it at the same vaccination site with the people? Everybody that see it will believe the vaccine is okay. It is not like the fake vaccination that we are seeing in the video. So, most people believe that, at times, those things they see in the video might not actually be what they are coming to give them in the communities.’ (Male FGD 6)

6

‘Like he rightly said, if somebody who is leading a thousand people get vaccinated in their presence, at least to some extent, it will influence others to get vaccinated. But take for example, somebody that is leading a thousand people step out of his office and take pictures or make a video and post it online, to us, [claiming] that he/she has taken [the COVID-19 vaccination]. How am I sure it is the COVID-19 vaccination and not paracetamol they gave him/her? How am I sure?’ (Male FGD 6)

7

‘What I feel is that, if the government started from inception to say the truth about what is going on in the country, it would have been easier for us to believe what they say. That way, we would have gone to take the [COVID-19] vaccination by now. So, because the government has not been truthful, people have refused to take whatever they say seriously.’ (Male FGD 4)

8

‘In my own mind, the problem is from the government. If the Nigerian government can work towards establishing good governance, then I believe people will be eager to receive the vaccination. The people they are governing are not happy with them.’ (Male FGD 5)

9

‘What I think the government should do … they are the ones to give us information … When the complete information about the person said to be infected or killed by COVID-19 [the name, where the person hails from, etc] is given to me [publicized], it is left for me to go and verify, … even if I do not know the victim, I will trace it, then I will go there and listen to them. When I see some truth about it, nobody will force me, I will start looking for the vaccination site [to get vaccinated]. We are only looking for proof, I need proof, just proof.’ (Male FGD 3)

10

‘What the government can do for people to go and receive the [COVID-19] vaccination is that … the government should come out and say “people of … go and receive this vaccination and if there is anything like this [severe side-effects], and anybody dies, you people should hold us responsible” … [they should agree that] if somebody finish taking the vaccination, starting from this time to so so time, if the person dies, that the people should hold them responsible.’ (Male FGD 3)

11

‘Again, there are videos going viral on the internet where people in other countries are protesting that they do not want the [COVID-19] vaccination again, meaning that there may be [COVID-19] vaccines that are fake. So, I suggest the government should stop the spread of the video [such videos] in order not to put fear in some people. … In addition to that, the media channels that disseminated such information should be sanctioned for doing so, because it is a means of discouraging people from taking the [COVID-19] vaccination.’ (Male FGD 2)