Middle East Journal of Family Medicine

JOURNAL

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April 2023 - Volume 21, Issue 3
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From the Editor

Editorial
A. Abyad (Chief Editor)
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Email: amcmeli@gmail.com, aabyad@cyberia.net.lb

Publisher
Lesley Pocock
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Editorial
Abdulrazak Abyad

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Middle East Quality Improvement Program
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Abdulrazak Abyad MD, MPH, MBA, AGSF, AFCHSE
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April 2023- Volume 21, Issue 3

Vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia

Mohammad Alkot*1,2, Abdurahman Hassan-Hussein*1, Arwa A. Al-Subhi3,
Haneen I. Barno3, Shahad S. Al-Kidaiwi3, Rawan A. Zagzoog3, Arwa A. Hussain3, Renad G. Al-Hazmi3, Shada Mohammed Abyad4

(1) Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
(2) Professor, Family Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt
(3) Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
(4) Medical Intern, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Correspondence:
Shada Mohammed Abyad
Medical Intern, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Email: shada0abyad@gmail.com

Received: February 2023 Accepted: March 2023; Published: April 1, 2023. Citation: Abdurahman Hassan-Hussein et al.. Vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia. World Family Medicine. March 2023; 21(3): 50-56 DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2023.95256073

Abstract

Background: Lack of knowledge, resources and community feedback could play a great role in developing vaccine hesitancy among populations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy and to assess the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine during the ongoing MERS-CoV-2 pandemic in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during March 2020 on the local population (n=262) of Makkah Al-Mukarramah. A pre-tested electronic questionnaire was used to obtain participants’ demographic data, knowledge base and attitudes.

Results: Of 262 participants, 76% were adults (18 to 60-years-old), and 24% were parents. Around 62% of participants were keen to take the flu vaccine. Regarding vaccine knowledge and the source of the knowledge, 92% had heard of the influenza vaccine from their health care provider, health awareness campaign, social media, relatives or friends, at 45%, 29%, 16%, and 11%, respectively. A significant interaction was found between participant’s age group and willingness to accept the introduction of a new vaccine against novel corona virus (P = 0.00).

Conclusion: Currently, vaccine hesitancy in Makkah is high (38%) compared to previous findings. It is recommended that improved measures should be taken to create more awareness through increased communal educational campaigns. Moreover, continuing education about the importance of vaccinations should be conducted by health care providers. Additional studies are needed in Makkah to assess the vaccine hesitancy movement.

Keywords: Vaccine hesitancy, Influenza, prevalence, Saudi Arabia, MERS-CoV2, COVID-19

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