Community Perspectives on COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Ethical Principles in Uganda: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges globally, necessitating the rapid development and distribution of vaccines. This study aimed to engage community members in Uganda to understand their perceptions of the ethical principles and prioritisation criteria for COVID-19 vaccine allocation. Employing a mixed-method approach of quantitative survey and qualitative key informant interviews, the study yielded significant findings crucial for understanding community perspectives on COVID-19 vaccine allocation in Uganda. This study investigated Ugandan community perspectives on the ethical principles governing COVID-19 vaccine allocation. While 82% of respondents were familiar with vaccination guidelines, vaccine hesitancy was evident due to mistrust, concerns about information quality, preference for alternative medicine, and doubts regarding vaccine efficacy. Despite general support for ethical principles, many participants doubted the governments ability to ensure equitable vaccine distribution. Concerns about fairness and global equity for low-middle-income countries were raised, emphasising the need to address cost, corruption, and political influence. The study highlights the importance of contextualising and localising ethical principles to enhance their relevance and acceptance within communities. Effective communication, community engagement, and addressing underlying sociocultural and systemic barriers are crucial for successful vaccine deployment. Incorporating community perspectives can foster trust and ownership, ultimately improving vaccine uptake and pandemic response.