Alamer Edrous, Hakami Faisal, Hamdi Sulaiman, Alamer Afnan, Awaf Mohammed, Darraj Hussam, Abutalib Yumna, Madkhali Ebtisam, Alamer Rahaf, Bakri Nawaf, Qadri Marwa, Algaissi Abdullah, Alhazmi Abdulaziz
Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia.
Medical Research Center, Emerging and Epidemic Infectious Diseases Research Unit, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia.
Vaccines (Basel). 2021 Nov 1;9(11):1259. doi: 10.3390/vaccines9111259.
Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that initiated early vaccination programs despite the global challenges concerning the availability of COVID-19 vaccines. Massive vaccination campaigns have been undertaken in the country; however, negative perception and hesitancy toward vaccines may exist which could reduce public response to vaccination. Further, studies evaluating the current perception and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines are scarce. Thus, this study aims to assess the community attitudes and perceptions toward COVID-19 vaccines in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia.
A cross-sectional, retrospective study using an online questionnaire was conducted among the public in Jazan, the southern region of Saudi Arabia. General and demographic data were collected, and perception and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated.
Most participants in this study were female (67%) with a median age of 23 years. The majority held a bachelor's degree, and they trusted the Saudi healthcare system. Our survey showed that 67% of the study participants had positive perceptions toward COVID-19 vaccines, a finding that is significantly associated with receiving the influenza vaccine in the past, the existence of trust on the current healthcare system and holding positive beliefs toward the effectiveness of the current COVID-19 vaccines in reducing the risk of infection, complication, and mortality.
The proportion of the public in Jazan who believed in the COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness is not inferior from similar international reports. Thus, national awareness programs toward the effectiveness of the vaccine could be enhanced to accelerate vaccination coverage. Further, nationwide surveys are warranted to include larger populations from different communities to assess the overall perception toward COVID-19 vaccines in the whole country.
沙特阿拉伯是尽管面临新冠疫苗供应的全球挑战却仍早早启动疫苗接种计划的国家之一。该国已开展大规模疫苗接种运动；然而，可能存在对疫苗的负面看法和犹豫态度，这可能会降低公众对疫苗接种的响应。此外，评估当前对新冠疫苗看法和态度的研究很少。因此，本研究旨在评估沙特阿拉伯吉赞省社区对新冠疫苗的态度和看法。
在沙特阿拉伯南部地区的吉赞市公众中开展了一项使用在线问卷的横断面回顾性研究。收集了一般和人口统计学数据，并评估了对新冠疫苗的看法和态度。
本研究中的大多数参与者为女性（67%），中位年龄为23岁。大多数人拥有学士学位，并且他们信任沙特的医疗保健系统。我们的调查显示，67%的研究参与者对新冠疫苗有积极看法，这一发现与过去接种流感疫苗、对当前医疗保健系统的信任以及对当前新冠疫苗在降低感染、并发症和死亡率风险方面有效性的积极信念显著相关。
吉赞省相信新冠疫苗有效性的公众比例并不低于类似的国际报告。因此，可以加强全国性的疫苗有效性宣传计划，以加快疫苗接种覆盖率。此外，有必要进行全国性调查，纳入来自不同社区的更多人群，以评估全国对新冠疫苗的总体看法。
