Impact of confidence in scientific community, manufacturers, and regulatory authorities on acceptance of locally manufactured mRNA vaccines.

OBJECTIVES

Confidence in scientific, manufacturing, and regulatory bodies is a key determinant of vaccine acceptance, particularly for locally produced vaccines. This study examined how such trust influences acceptance of a hypothetical locally manufactured mRNA vaccine in Malaysia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey of 2028 Malaysian adults assessed confidence in local scientists, manufacturers, regulatory authorities, and international regulatory bodies. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to identify predictors of acceptance.

RESULTS

Of respondents, 55.8% indicated they would probably accept the vaccine, while 40.1% would definitely accept it. Only 4.1% reported they would not accept the vaccine. PLS-SEM analysis revealed that confidence in local vaccine regulatory authorities was the strongest predictor of public acceptance of locally-produced mRNA vaccines (β = 0.183, p < 0.0001), followed by confidence in local vaccine manufacturers (β = 0.133, p < 0.0001), the local scientific community (β = 0.108, p = 0.001), and lastly, confidence in international regulatory authorities (β = 0.078, p = 0.016).

CONCLUSIONS

The study concludes that confidence in national regulatory authorities, followed by trust in local manufacturers and the scientific community, plays a central role in acceptance of locally produced vaccines, surpassing trust in international authorities. Public acceptance of locally produced vaccines is driven mainly by trust in national regulators, followed by manufacturers, the scientific community, and international regulators. Enhancing acceptance requires coordinated action across sectors, with strong trust in national regulators underscoring the need for halal certification and other cultural considerations in Muslim-majority settings.