PONE-D-22-19860Acceptance and hesitancy of COVID-19 vaccine among Nepalese population: a cross-sectional studyPLOS ONE

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Reviewer #2: Partly

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Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Thanks for the invitation to review this manuscript.

In the current study, Suresh Dahal et al. investigated COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adult Nepalese population using a cross-sectional web-based survey. The study results pointed to a low rate of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the country compared to rates observed in other regions and countries worldwide.

Overall, the manuscript is well-prepared, and the study design was appropriate to reach reliable conclusions regarding the study objectives.

I have the following minor comments that hopefully can help the authors to improve the final manuscript:

Abstract: The authors can benefit from adding the cited reasons reported by the participants who were hesitant to COVID-19 vaccination.

Introduction: It was clear and provided sufficient background on the study topic and included all relevant references.

Methods: The study design was appropriate, and the methods were described in enough details to allow replication of the study. One important point that should be clarified by the authors is the exact wording of the survey item that assessed COVID-19 vaccine acceptance/hesitancy besides the possible answers. I could not access the supplementary file; therefore, I am not sure if the authors provided the complete questionnaire. If not, the authors are encouraged to do so.

Results: The study results were presented clearly including the table and figures.

Discussion and Conclusions: The study results were presented in the context of the extant literature properly and the conclusions were supported by the results. Importantly, the authors presented the potential limitations of the study.

Thanks!

Reviewer #2: This is a prevalence study, looking at vaccine hesitancy.

A few comments worth addressing.

Can the authors elaborate on the why the final questionnaire was assigned randomly to people - does this mean some did not get to complete this questionnaire? What was the random method used.

Can the authors expand on the outcome measures, was this calculated by a total /mean score from the six and seven Likert questionnaire?

Sample size was set at 200, the authors noted that, they however, collected as many responses, was this still done in the recruitment period? As it might be misleading to over collect data, more than is needed for the study.

Under the data analysis section, you may want to add, for skewed data, median (IQR) were presented.

Under data analysis, remove 95%CI, as this was not done/represented, either add 95% results or omit.

Line 210- The mean “(SD)” age of the participants was 24.15 (“6.8”).- changed to 1 d.p - be consistent throughout manuscript.

Table 1 - format so that SD is 1 d.p.

Worth mentioning in the discussion that the assumed prevalence of vaccine hesitancy used for the sample size calculator, upon collecting data in the chosen population in this study, low prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was observed.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Acceptance and hesitancy of COVID-19 vaccine among Nepalese population: a cross-sectional study

PONE-D-22-19860R1

Dear Authors, 

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Yaser Mohammed Al-Worafi

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE