The Acceptance, Concerns, and Obstacles related to COVID-19 Vaccination among the General Society in Saudi Arabia: COVID-19 vaccination perception among the public

Wejdan  Rahali; Murouj Almaghrabi; Ahad Babkier; Sadeem Bukhari; Mokhtar Shatla

doi:10.54293/smhj.v1i1.18

Authors

Wejdan Rahali Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2221-6657
Murouj Almaghrabi Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7357-9269
Ahad Babkier Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8178-0357
Sadeem Bukhari Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0498-7047
Mokhtar Shatla Associate professor, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt. Associate professor, Department of Community Medicine and pilgrimage health, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4952-4046

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54293/smhj.v1i1.18

Keywords:

Acceptance, COVID-19, obstacles, Saudi Arabia, vaccination

Abstract

Background: The strongest COVID-19 control solution is an effective vaccine. Several factors affect COVID-19 vaccine acceptance by the general population. Public health officials and practitioners must recognize all obstacles that may discourage people from obtaining COVID-19 vaccines. The present study aimed to measure the extent of community acceptance of taking the COVID-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia, as well as to assess the limitations, concerns, and obstacles that is related to the vaccine.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of a sample consisting of 1400 participants living in Saudi Arabia assessed socio-demographic characteristics, general characteristics of the vaccinated participants, and participants’ acceptance, concerns, and obstacles related to COVID-19 vaccination.

Results: Most participants were females (63.1%) and from the western region of Saudi Arabia (81.2%). Nearly equal number was reported between vaccinated and non-vaccinated participants with COVID-19 vaccination (45% and 55% respectively). Exact of 324 participants reported obstacles that prevent them from getting the vaccine, in which the highly reported item was lack of information about the vaccine (21.6%). A total number of 1,796 participants reported few concerns, in which the most common item was health concern (43.4%), followed by misleading ideas and beliefs (35.4%). A recorded statistical significance p-value was determined between the participants who received COVID-19 vaccination and the gender, nationality, place of residence, and working in government sector (P=0.002, 0.002, 0.001, and 0.011, respectively).

Conclusions: Awareness of COVID-19 vaccination is still lacking. Thus, a targeted health educational programs are needed to increase the individuals convince and reduce the fears about the vaccination.