COVID-19 Vaccine Intention among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused largescale morbidity and mortality and a tremendous burden on the healthcare system. Healthcare workers (HCWs) require adequate protection to avoid onward transmission and minimize burden on the healthcare system. Moreover, HCWs can also influence the general public...

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Main Authors: Mohammed Noushad, Mohammad Zakaria Nassani, Anas B. Alsalhani, Pradeep Koppolu, Fayez Hussain Niazi, Abdulaziz Samran, Samer Rastam, Ali Alqerban, Ali Barakat, Hesham S. Almoallim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
Series:Vaccines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/8/835
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author Mohammed Noushad
Mohammad Zakaria Nassani
Anas B. Alsalhani
Pradeep Koppolu
Fayez Hussain Niazi
Abdulaziz Samran
Samer Rastam
Ali Alqerban
Ali Barakat
Hesham S. Almoallim
author_facet Mohammed Noushad
Mohammad Zakaria Nassani
Anas B. Alsalhani
Pradeep Koppolu
Fayez Hussain Niazi
Abdulaziz Samran
Samer Rastam
Ali Alqerban
Ali Barakat
Hesham S. Almoallim
author_sort Mohammed Noushad
collection DOAJ
description The COVID-19 pandemic has caused largescale morbidity and mortality and a tremendous burden on the healthcare system. Healthcare workers (HCWs) require adequate protection to avoid onward transmission and minimize burden on the healthcare system. Moreover, HCWs can also influence the general public into accepting the COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, determining COVID-19 vaccine intention among HCWs is of paramount importance to plan tailor-made public health strategies to maximize vaccine coverage. A structured questionnaire was administered in February and March 2021 among HCWs in Saudi Arabia using convenience sampling, proceeding the launch of the vaccination campaign. HCWs from all administrative regions of Saudi Arabia were included in the study. In total, 674 out of 1124 HCWs responded and completed the survey (response rate 59.9%). About 65 percent of the HCWs intended to get vaccinated. The intention to vaccinate was significantly higher among HCWs 50 years of age or older, Saudi nationals and those who followed the updates about COVID-19 vaccines (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The high percentage (26 percent) of those who were undecided in getting vaccinated is a positive sign. As the vaccination campaign gathers pace, the attitude is expected to change over time. Emphasis should be on planning healthcare strategies to convince the undecided HCWs into accepting the vaccine in order to achieve the coverage required to achieve herd immunity.
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spelling doaj.art-6d9dffb9c03540158e3a40c557a395802023-11-22T10:06:39ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2021-07-019883510.3390/vaccines9080835COVID-19 Vaccine Intention among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional SurveyMohammed Noushad0Mohammad Zakaria Nassani1Anas B. Alsalhani2Pradeep Koppolu3Fayez Hussain Niazi4Abdulaziz Samran5Samer Rastam6Ali Alqerban7Ali Barakat8Hesham S. Almoallim9Department of Restorative and Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh 11512, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Restorative and Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh 11512, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Vision College of Dentistry and Nursing, Vision Colleges, Riyadh 11691, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh 13313, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Restorative and Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh 11512, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Restorative and Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh 11512, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Vision College of Medicine, Vision Colleges, Riyadh 11691, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh 13313, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Restorative and Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh 11512, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Surgical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh 13313, Saudi ArabiaThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused largescale morbidity and mortality and a tremendous burden on the healthcare system. Healthcare workers (HCWs) require adequate protection to avoid onward transmission and minimize burden on the healthcare system. Moreover, HCWs can also influence the general public into accepting the COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, determining COVID-19 vaccine intention among HCWs is of paramount importance to plan tailor-made public health strategies to maximize vaccine coverage. A structured questionnaire was administered in February and March 2021 among HCWs in Saudi Arabia using convenience sampling, proceeding the launch of the vaccination campaign. HCWs from all administrative regions of Saudi Arabia were included in the study. In total, 674 out of 1124 HCWs responded and completed the survey (response rate 59.9%). About 65 percent of the HCWs intended to get vaccinated. The intention to vaccinate was significantly higher among HCWs 50 years of age or older, Saudi nationals and those who followed the updates about COVID-19 vaccines (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The high percentage (26 percent) of those who were undecided in getting vaccinated is a positive sign. As the vaccination campaign gathers pace, the attitude is expected to change over time. Emphasis should be on planning healthcare strategies to convince the undecided HCWs into accepting the vaccine in order to achieve the coverage required to achieve herd immunity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/8/835COVID-19vaccine intentionherd immunitySaudi Arabiahealthcare workers
spellingShingle Mohammed Noushad
Mohammad Zakaria Nassani
Anas B. Alsalhani
Pradeep Koppolu
Fayez Hussain Niazi
Abdulaziz Samran
Samer Rastam
Ali Alqerban
Ali Barakat
Hesham S. Almoallim
COVID-19 Vaccine Intention among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Vaccines
COVID-19
vaccine intention
herd immunity
Saudi Arabia
healthcare workers
title COVID-19 Vaccine Intention among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey
title_full COVID-19 Vaccine Intention among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey
title_fullStr COVID-19 Vaccine Intention among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey
title_full_unstemmed COVID-19 Vaccine Intention among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey
title_short COVID-19 Vaccine Intention among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey
title_sort covid 19 vaccine intention among healthcare workers in saudi arabia a cross sectional survey
topic COVID-19
vaccine intention
herd immunity
Saudi Arabia
healthcare workers
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/8/835
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