Willingness, beliefs, and barriers regarding the COVID-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia: a multiregional cross-sectional study

BMC Family Practice

Yara Bashawri¹  Assaf AlMalki²  Azzam Alabdulqader²  Faisal AlSiari²  Abdullah Alkharashi²  Shouq AlNujaim³  Noura Altulahi⁴  Sarah Alsubaie⁵  Yara AlGoraini⁶  Dayel AlShahrani⁷ 

[1] Biostatistics Specialist, Biostatistics Department, King Fahad Medical City, Research Services Administration, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia;College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;Pediatric Emergency Department, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Section, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;

关键词: Willingness COVID-19 vaccine;    Vaccination;    Beliefs;    Barriers;    Saudi Arabia;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12875-021-01606-6

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide, and the vaccine remains the ultimate cornerstone to overcoming its long-term impact. Vaccine hesitancy might obstruct the effort to achieve herd immunity and eradicate the virus. We assessed Saudi Arabian individuals’ willingness, beliefs, and barriers regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and their adherence to preventive measures during and after the pandemic.MethodsA self-administered electronic validated questionnaire was distributed among the five major regions in Saudi Arabia between November and December 2020. The questionnaire addressed the sociodemographic data, beliefs, potential barriers, parents’ acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination for their children, and adherence to protective measures during and after the pandemic.ResultsOf 8,056 participants, 4,218 (52.4%) of a non-representative sample were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Being a young adult, male, having less than a high school degree, being a smoker, having a chronic disease, and having a history of seasonal influenza vaccine uptake were positive predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Hesitant participants reported concerns about vaccine side effects and safety as the main barriers to accepting the COVID-19 vaccine. Some refusers (26.1%) declared that they would reconsider vaccination only if the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine were reported by more studies.ConclusionsOur study revealed a promising willingness to accept the vaccine among the population, with positive beliefs and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. However, a considerable proportion of the population was reluctant to accept the vaccine. Thus, publicly providing information about vaccine safety and implementing health education programs is crucial for increasing the public’s confidence in the vaccine.

【 授权许可】

CC BY