Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan.
Department of Clinical Laboratories and Forensic Medicine, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, 11942, Jordan.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2024;1457:299-322. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-61939-7_17.
Since the declaration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic, intensive measures were taken to mitigate its negative health, psychological, social, and economic impact. COVID-19 continues to pose serious threats globally, with vaccination as the central safe strategy to control the pandemic. However, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a major concern, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Concerns regarding vaccine safety, efficacy, and misinformation contribute to vaccine hesitancy. Addressing these concerns and providing accurate information is crucial for increasing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and uptake in this region, where the coverage is low. Variable rates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy were found in the numerous studies conducted in the region. Complex factors contributed to vaccination hesitancy in the region including concerns about COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy, low trust in healthcare systems, complacency toward the risks of COVID-19, constraints hindering access to COVID-19 vaccination services, as well as the circulation of misinformation and conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 and its vaccination. Effective approaches to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the MENA region rely on developing evidence-based communication strategies that are recommended to build trust in vaccination, highlight the disease risks, and counter COVID-19 vaccine-related misinformation. Ensuring COVID-19 vaccine affordability is also necessary besides the cautious consideration of implementing COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Based on the preceding discussion, this chapter aims to identify the common themes of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the MENA region. In addition, the chapter highlights the importance of understanding the root causes of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and its associated determinants to develop effective strategies for promoting COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and uptake in the MENA region. To build community trust, promote community education and awareness, and counter misinformation for better COVID-19 vaccine coverage in the region, it is recommended to involve healthcare professionals and policymakers.
自 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）宣布为大流行以来，采取了密集措施来减轻其对健康、心理、社会和经济的负面影响。COVID-19 继续在全球构成严重威胁，疫苗接种是控制大流行的核心安全策略。然而，COVID-19 疫苗犹豫是一个主要问题，特别是在中东和北非（MENA）地区。对疫苗安全性、有效性和错误信息的担忧导致了疫苗犹豫。解决这些问题并提供准确信息对于提高该地区 COVID-19 疫苗的接受度和接种率至关重要，因为该地区的覆盖率较低。在该地区进行的多项研究中发现，COVID-19 疫苗犹豫率存在差异。该地区疫苗犹豫的复杂因素包括对 COVID-19 疫苗安全性和有效性的担忧、对医疗保健系统的信任度低、对 COVID-19 风险的自满情绪、阻碍获得 COVID-19 疫苗接种服务的限制，以及有关 COVID-19 和其疫苗的错误信息和阴谋信仰的传播。在 MENA 地区解决 COVID-19 疫苗犹豫的有效方法依赖于制定基于证据的沟通策略，这些策略建议建立对疫苗接种的信任，突出疾病风险，并对抗 COVID-19 疫苗相关的错误信息。确保 COVID-19 疫苗的可负担性也是必要的，除了谨慎考虑实施 COVID-19 疫苗授权之外。基于上述讨论，本章旨在确定 MENA 地区 COVID-19 疫苗犹豫的共同主题。此外，本章强调了了解 COVID-19 疫苗接种犹豫的根本原因及其相关决定因素的重要性，以制定在 MENA 地区促进 COVID-19 疫苗接受度和接种率的有效策略。为了建立社区信任、促进社区教育和意识以及对抗错误信息以提高该地区的 COVID-19 疫苗覆盖率，建议让医疗保健专业人员和政策制定者参与进来。
