The study was an assessment of citizens’ awareness of campaigns and responses to covid-19 vaccine in Akwa Ibom state. The research objectives that guided this study were to find out the level of COVID-19 vaccine campaign awareness by residents of the Uyo metropolis, to ascertain the level of response to the COVID-19 vaccine among residents of the Uyo Metropolis, to find out factors responsible for the continuous hesitancy among those who are yet to receive COVID-19 vaccine among Uyo Residents. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey-based research method. The population size for this study constituted Uyo residents and the current population of Uyo stood at 1,329,000, of which the sample size of three hundred and eighty-four (384) was determined using the Krejci and Morgan sample size determinant table, and the purposive sampling technique was used to select participants who participated in the survey. Three hundred and thirty-four (384) copies of the questionnaire were used for data collection. The health belief model and theory of planned behaviour formed the theoretical framework for the study. Findings from the study showed that the majority of Uyo residents were highly aware of the awareness campaign on covid-19 vaccine (212 respondents representing (61%)), the study also showed high level of responses to covid-19 vaccination in the Uyo metropolis, (233) representing (39%)) of the respondents, the study also revealed factors responsible for continuous hesitancy among those who have not been vaccinated to include: fear of adverse effect following immunization, no proper vaccine protocol awareness, no proper sensitization, and no reason, etc. Following the findings, the study recommended that the government of Akwa Ibom State should through relevant agencies and the mass media, intensify the campaign with a particular focus on how and where to get the first and follow-doses of the vaccine in the state, the government should also open more vaccination centers to reduce waiting time and ease of access, all campaign contents should reinforce the safety of the Vaccine irrespective of the brand.
Keywords: COVID 19 Vaccine, Mass Media, health campaigns, media awareness
