Epidemiology of COVID-19 Control, Vaccine Development, and Public Health Communication: Insights from Post-Pandemic Africa
Olumuyiwa A. Bamgbade1*, Vera O. Onongaya2, Timothy O. Bamgbade3, Chantelle E. Clarke Webster4, Nancy E. Tase5, Oluwafemi Oluwole6, Olajumoke O. Lawal7, Miriam Kessi8, Thandeka M. Khanyile9, Nikki K. Soni10, Beatriz Manuel11, Gugulami P. Butelezi12, Juliet M. Mulenga13, Alain Irakoze14, Munsha T. Siankanga15, Gloria D. Chauke16, Fidelia B. Alawa17, Dimakatso A. Senthebane18
1Department of Anesthesiology & Pharmacology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
2Department of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
3Department of Research, Center for Societal & Health Equity, Vancouver, Canada.
4Department of Research, Salem Anaesthesia Pain Clinic Surrey, Vancouver, Canada.
5Department of Public Health, Federal Capital Health Services, Abuja, Nigeria.
6Department of Pediatrics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
7Department of Nursing, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
8Research Department, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania.
9Department of Pharmacology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa.
10Department of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
11Department of Community Health, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique.
12Department of Pharmacy, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
13Department of Nursing, Ministry of Health, Lusaka, Zambia.
14Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
15Department of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
16Department of Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
17Department of Medicine, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
18Department of Integrated Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
*Corresponding Author: Olumuyiwa A. Bamgbade, Department of Anesthesiology & Pharmacology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOAMR.2026.04.011
Received: April 07, 2026
Published: April 27, 2026
Citation: Bamgbade OA, Onongaya VO, Bamgbade TO, Clarke-Webster CE, Tase NE, Oluwole O, Lawal OO, Kessi M, Khanyile TM, Soni NK, Manuel B, Butelezi GP, Mulenga JM, Irakoze A, Siankanga MT, Chauke GD, Alawa FB, Senthebane DA. Epidemiology of COVID-19 Control, Vaccine Development, and Public Health Communication: Insights from Post-Pandemic Africa. SVOA Medical Research 2026, 4:3, 96-113. doi: 10.58624/SVOAMR.2026.04.011
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 is a major public health concern, and epidemiology remains central to vaccine development, priority-setting, product testing, marketing strategy, equitable distribution, post-vaccination surveillance, and the interpretation of vaccine uptake and hesitancy. This research examined COVID-19 knowledge, vaccine uptake, vaccine hesitancy, and preventive behaviours in post-pandemic African settings to identify lessons for future vaccine development and vaccination programs.
Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in Nigeria and South Africa from October 2023 to March 2024 following pilot validation. The final research included 2002 participants recruited through convenience sampling. Data were analysed using ANOVA, Chi-square test, Student's t-test, logistic regression, and Fisher's exact test to identify epidemiologically relevant patterns in knowledge, attitudes, and vaccination status. Although the survey did not directly measure clinical trial performance, post-vaccination efficacy, or pharmacovigilance outcomes, it generated population-level evidence relevant to transparent and equitable testing, public communication, uptake, and post-marketing surveillance planning.
Results: Education, employment, living status, and occupation significantly shaped COVID-19 knowledge and vaccine attitudes. Most participants with secondary or college/university education demonstrated good knowledge, whereas most participants with vocational/technical education demonstrated poor knowledge. Full-time employment and living with a spouse or small family were associated with better knowledge. Most participants correctly identified COVID-19 as a virus and recognised cough as the main route of transmission. Vaccine awareness was high, yet uptake was low: 21% received a first dose and 5% a second. Negative attitudes toward vaccination remained common, and misinformation about vaccine-related harm persisted. These findings suggest that future vaccine development and marketing strategies must link scientific progress with transparent communication, equitable access, affordability, and stronger post-deployment monitoring.
Conclusions: This research shows that epidemiological understanding, vaccine uptake, and vaccine hesitancy are closely linked in post-pandemic Africa. High vaccine awareness did not translate into high vaccination coverage. Low uptake appears to reflect both access barriers and persistent mistrust, especially among younger and less-educated groups. The findings highlight the need for epidemiology-informed vaccine development, transparent and equitable testing, responsible marketing, equitable distribution and pricing, stronger post-vaccination efficacy assessment and surveillance, and targeted public health communication to support future vaccine acceptance.
Trial registration: The study was registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov (PRS) registry under the PRS number NCT05950243.
Keywords: COVID-19 epidemiology; Vaccine development; Public health communication; Vaccine hesitancy; Vaccine pharmacovigilance; Post-marketing surveillance