COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Representative Education Sector Population in Qatar
Even though vaccination programs have now started in earnest across the globe and in Qatar, vaccine hesitancy remains a barrier to effectively tackling the pandemic. Many factors influence willingness to take vaccines including safety, efficacy, and side effects. Given their proximity to research an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/6/665 |
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| author | Reem Al-Mulla Marawan Abu-Madi Qusai M. Talafha Reema F. Tayyem Atiyeh M. Abdallah |
| author_facet | Reem Al-Mulla Marawan Abu-Madi Qusai M. Talafha Reema F. Tayyem Atiyeh M. Abdallah |
| author_sort | Reem Al-Mulla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Even though vaccination programs have now started in earnest across the globe and in Qatar, vaccine hesitancy remains a barrier to effectively tackling the pandemic. Many factors influence willingness to take vaccines including safety, efficacy, and side effects. Given their proximity to research and education, university students and employees represent an interesting cohort in which to investigate vaccine hesitancy. The aim of this study was to assess the attitudes of Qatar University employees and students towards the COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 231 employees and 231 students participated in an online cross-sectional study in February 2021. Of the sample, 62.6% were willing to take a vaccine against COVID-19. Participants with or taking postgraduate degrees were more willing to take the vaccine compared to participants with or taking a diploma or bachelor’s degree (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Males had a higher rate of vaccine acceptance (<i>p</i> < 0.001). In the group that regarded flu vaccination as important, 13% were unwilling to take COVID-19 vaccine. There were no associations between willingness to vaccinate and vaccine/virus knowledge and social media use. Participants showed a high level of concern regarding vaccine side effects in themselves or their children. Two-thirds agreed or strongly agreed that they would take the vaccine if it was mandatory for international travel. Our participants were neutral to the origin of vaccine development. These findings, which represent data collected after the start of the national vaccination program, show that vaccine hesitancy persists in the Qatari population and that some groups, such as undergraduate students, could benefit from specific, targeted public health campaigns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:18:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d94d6560370c453e917d42b7347f1408 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:18:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-d94d6560370c453e917d42b7347f14082023-11-22T00:36:43ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2021-06-019666510.3390/vaccines9060665COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Representative Education Sector Population in QatarReem Al-Mulla0Marawan Abu-Madi1Qusai M. Talafha2Reema F. Tayyem3Atiyeh M. Abdallah4Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Doha 2713, QatarDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Doha 2713, QatarBiomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Unit, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, QatarDepartment of Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Doha 2713, QatarDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Doha 2713, QatarEven though vaccination programs have now started in earnest across the globe and in Qatar, vaccine hesitancy remains a barrier to effectively tackling the pandemic. Many factors influence willingness to take vaccines including safety, efficacy, and side effects. Given their proximity to research and education, university students and employees represent an interesting cohort in which to investigate vaccine hesitancy. The aim of this study was to assess the attitudes of Qatar University employees and students towards the COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 231 employees and 231 students participated in an online cross-sectional study in February 2021. Of the sample, 62.6% were willing to take a vaccine against COVID-19. Participants with or taking postgraduate degrees were more willing to take the vaccine compared to participants with or taking a diploma or bachelor’s degree (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Males had a higher rate of vaccine acceptance (<i>p</i> < 0.001). In the group that regarded flu vaccination as important, 13% were unwilling to take COVID-19 vaccine. There were no associations between willingness to vaccinate and vaccine/virus knowledge and social media use. Participants showed a high level of concern regarding vaccine side effects in themselves or their children. Two-thirds agreed or strongly agreed that they would take the vaccine if it was mandatory for international travel. Our participants were neutral to the origin of vaccine development. These findings, which represent data collected after the start of the national vaccination program, show that vaccine hesitancy persists in the Qatari population and that some groups, such as undergraduate students, could benefit from specific, targeted public health campaigns.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/6/665COVID-19vaccinehesitancyQatareducation sectorpost vaccine administration program |
| spellingShingle | Reem Al-Mulla Marawan Abu-Madi Qusai M. Talafha Reema F. Tayyem Atiyeh M. Abdallah COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Representative Education Sector Population in Qatar Vaccines COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy Qatar education sector post vaccine administration program |
| title | COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Representative Education Sector Population in Qatar |
| title_full | COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Representative Education Sector Population in Qatar |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Representative Education Sector Population in Qatar |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Representative Education Sector Population in Qatar |
| title_short | COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Representative Education Sector Population in Qatar |
| title_sort | covid 19 vaccine hesitancy in a representative education sector population in qatar |
| topic | COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy Qatar education sector post vaccine administration program |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/6/665 |
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