Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has set a precedent for the fastest-produced vaccine as a result of global collaboration and outreach. This study explored Malaysians’ acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and its associated factors.
Methods A cross-sectional anonymous web-based survey was disseminated to Malaysian adults aged ≥18 years old via social media platforms between July 10, 2020 and August 31, 2020.
Results In the analysis of 4,164 complete responses, 93.2% of participants indicated that they would accept the COVID-19 vaccine if it was offered for free by the Malaysian government. The median out-of-pocket cost that participants were willing to pay for a COVID-19 vaccine was Malaysian ringgit (MYR) 100 (interquartile range [IQR], 100) if it was readily available and MYR 150 (IQR, 200) if the supply was limited. Respondents with a low likelihood of vaccine hesitancy had 13 times higher odds of accepting the COVID-19 vaccine (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.69 to 19.13). High perceived risk and severity were also associated with willingness to be vaccinated, with adjusted odds ratios of 2.22 (95% CI, 1.44 to 3.41) and 2.76 (95% CI, 1.87 to 4.09), respectively. Age and ethnicity were the only independent demographic characteristics that predicted vaccine uptake.
Conclusion Public health strategies targeting perceived risk, perceived susceptibility and vaccine hesitancy could be effective in enhancing vaccine uptake.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Longitudinal Analysis of Antibody Dynamics in Post-COVID-19 Patients following CoronaVac-Based Hybrid Immunity Akmal Shukri Amir Muhaimin, Muhammad Amin Ibrahim, Mohammed Fauzi Abdul Rani, Mariam Mohamad, Seok Mui Wang, Ariza Adnan, Madyhah Abd. Monir, Fatmawati Kamal, Siti Farah Alwani Mohd Nawi Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology.2026; 20(2): 1278. CrossRef
Impact of confidence in scientific community, manufacturers, and regulatory authorities on acceptance of locally manufactured mRNA vaccines Li Ping Wong, Haridah Alias, Hai Yen Lee Vaccine.2026; 88: 128792. CrossRef
Factors Affecting Reluctance to Malaysian Adults’ COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses Nadhiah Abd Rahman, Hemaloshinee Vasudevan, Heinko Dona Madon, Noorseha Ayob Buletin Ilmu Kebidanan dan Keperawatan.2026; 5(02): 116. CrossRef
Does the messenger make the difference? Perceived reliability of health information sources during the COVID-19 pandemic in multi-ethnic Malaysia Nicholas Yee Liang Hing, Yew Kong Lee, Hyung Joon Kim, Nurhyikmah M. Lothfi, Elizabeth Wong, Joan Costa-Font, Theingi Maung Maung PLOS Global Public Health.2026; 6(10): e0007397. CrossRef
From infodemic to resilience: Exploring COVID‐19 protective measures in armed‐conflict zone Mona Salim, Jiuchang Wei Risk Analysis.2025; 45(6): 1453. CrossRef
Development and validation of COVID-19 vaccination perception (CoVaP) instrument among healthcare workers in Malaysia Siti Nur Aisyah Zaid, Azidah Abdul Kadir, Mohd Noor Norhayati, Basaruddin Ahmad, Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff, Anis Safura Ramli, Jasy Suet Yan Liew PeerJ.2025; 13: e19318. CrossRef
Assessing the Determinants of Influenza Vaccine Uptake in Malaysia: Strategies to Improve Public Health and Service Delivery Prebha Manickam, Tina Varghese, Suwarna Senthilvasan, Rubithra Ramesh, Suveitra Balanei Balasubramaniam Cureus.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Enablers and Barriers of COVID-19 Vaccination in the Philippines Evalyn Roxas, Paulyn Jean Acacio-Claro, Maria Margarita Lota, Alvin Abeleda, Soledad Natalia Dalisay, Madilene Landicho, Yoshiki Fujimori, Jan Zarlyn Rosuello, Jessica Kaufman, Margaret Danchin, Vicente Belizario, Florian Vogt Vaccines.2025; 13(7): 719. CrossRef
Assessment of Allergic Reaction of Covid-19 Vaccination among Malaysian Adults: A Cross-sectional Study Abdah Md Akim, Nurhazwani Abd Rauf, Yazan Ranneh, Gul-e-Saba Chaudhry Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Awareness, knowledge, disease prevention practices, and immunization attitude of hepatitis E virus among food handlers in Klang Valley, Malaysia Sakshaleni Rajendiran, Wong Li Ping, Yuvaneswary Veloo, Syahidiah Syed Abu Thahir Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Acceptability of COVID-19 booster vaccine in malaysia: a cross-sectional study Cheryl Minn Jee Khoo, Eve Zhi Qing Dea, Li Yeow Law, Sharon Siew Tong Wong, Khuen Yen Ng, Athirah Bakhtiar Scientific Reports.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
To Vaccinate or Not? Perceived Benefits and Social Media Exposure as Predictors of COVID-19 Booster Jab Vaccination Practices with Self-Efficacy as Moderator Tak Jie Chan, Pei Xin Chong, Sheh Chin Foo, Yang Tian, Riki Arswendi Journal of Communication, Language and Culture.2024; 4(2): 142. CrossRef
COVID-19 vaccine uptake and its determinants among teenagers and their parents in Zhejiang, China Yu Huang, Qingqing Wu, Shuiyang Xu, Xiang Zhao, Lei Wang, Qiaohong Lv, Suxian Wu, Xuehai Zhang Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine.2023; 16(4): 176. CrossRef
Factors influencing parents’ hesitancy to vaccinate their children aged 5–11 years old against COVID-19: results from a cross-sectional study in Malaysia Roy Rillera Marzo, Ritankar Chakraborty, Shean Yih Soh, Hui Zhu Thew, Collins Chong, Ching Sin Siau, Khairuddin Bin Abdul Wahab, Indang Ariati Binti Ariffin, Shekhar Chauhan, Ken Brackstone, Bijaya Kumar Padhi, Petra Heidler Frontiers in Public Health.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
A survey on Malaysian’s acceptance and perceptions towards COVID-19 booster dose Suresh Rajakumar, Noorasyikin Shamsuddin, Mohammed Abdullah Alshawsh, Sutha Rajakumar, Hasniza Zaman Huri Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal.2023; 31(11): 101797. CrossRef
Cross-sectional assessment of predictors for COVID-19 vaccine uptake: an online survey in Greece Petros Galanis, Irene Vraka, Olga Siskou, Olympia Konstantakopoulou, Aglaia Katsiroumpa, Ioannis Moisoglou, Daphne Kaitelidou Vacunas.2022; 23: S60. CrossRef
Key predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Malaysia: An integrated framework Jason Wei Jian Ng, Santha Vaithilingam, Mahendhiran Nair, Li-Ann Hwang, Kamarul Imran Musa, Anat Gesser-Edelsburg PLOS ONE.2022; 17(5): e0268926. CrossRef
Intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose and associated factors in Malaysia Li Ping Wong, Haridah Alias, Yan-Li Siaw, Mustakiza Muslimin, Lee Lee Lai, Yulan Lin, Zhijian Hu Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis Ayenew Mose, Abebaw Wasie, Solomon Shitu, Kassahun Haile, Abebe Timerga, Tamirat Melis, Tadesse Sahle, Amare Zewdie, Dong Keon Yon PLOS ONE.2022; 17(6): e0269273. CrossRef
When do persuasive messages on vaccine safety steer COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and recommendations? Behavioural insights from a randomised controlled experiment in Malaysia Nicholas Yee Liang Hing, Yuan Liang Woon, Yew Kong Lee, Hyung Joon Kim, Nurhyikmah M Lothfi, Elizabeth Wong, Komathi Perialathan, Nor Haryati Ahmad Sanusi, Affendi Isa, Chin Tho Leong, Joan Costa-Font BMJ Global Health.2022; 7(7): e009250. CrossRef
COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate and its predictors in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis Getaneh Mulualem Belay, Tewodros Getaneh Alemu, Masresha Asmare Techane, Chalachew Adugna Wubneh, Nega Tezera Assimamaw, Tadesse Tarik Tamir, Addis Bilal Muhye, Destaye Guadie Kassie, Amare Wondim, Bewuketu Terefe, Bethlehem Tigabu Tarekegn, Mohammed Seid Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Cross-sectional assessment of predictors for COVID-19 vaccine uptake: an online survey in Greece Petros Galanis, Irene Vraka, Olga Siskou, Olympia Konstantakopoulou, Aglaia Katsiroumpa, Ioannis Moisoglou, Daphne Kaitelidou Vacunas (English Edition).2022; 23: S60. CrossRef
First
Prev
