Adenovirus and RNA-based COVID-19 vaccines' perceptions and acceptance among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia: A national survey

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Mohamed-Hani Temsah, King Saud University, Riyadh; Mazin Barry, King Saud University, Riyadh; Fadi Aljamaan, King Saud University, Riyadh; Abdullah Alhuzaimi, King Saud University, Riyadh; Ayman Al-Eyadhy, King Saud University, Riyadh; Basema Saddik, University of Sharjah; Abdulkarin Alrabiaah, King Saud University, Riyadh; Fahad Alsohime, King Saud University, Riyadh; Ali Alhaboob, King Saud University, Riyadh; Khalid Alhasan, King Saud University, Riyadh; Ali Alaraj, Al Qassim University; Rabih Halwani, University of Sharjah; Nurah M Alamro, King Saud University, Riyadh; Fatimah S Al-Shahrani, King Saud University, Riyadh; Amr Jamal, King Saud University, Riyadh; Sarah Alsubaie, King Saud University, Riyadh; Ziad Memish, Emory University; Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-06-21
• Publisher: BMJ
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048586
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: BMJ Open
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 6
• Start Page: e048586
• End Page: e048586
• Grant/Funding Information: The authors are grateful to the Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University, for funding through the Vice Deanship of Scientific Research Chairs. Award/grant number is not applicable.
• Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; RNA; COVID-19; Surveys and Questionnaires; Adenoviridae; BNT162 Vaccine; Perception; Saudi Arabia; Health Personnel; COVID-19 Vaccines; Female; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; anxiety disorders; ChAdOx1 nCoV-19; immunology; Male
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the perception, confidence, hesitancy and acceptance rate of various COVID-19 vaccine types among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia, a nation with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus experience. Design National cross-sectional, pilot-validated questionnaire. Setting Online, self-administered questionnaire among HCWs. Participants A total of 2007 HCWs working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated; 1512 (75.3%) participants completed the survey and were included in the analysis. Intervention Data were collected through an online survey sent to HCWs during 1-15 November 2020. The main outcome measure was HCW acceptance of COVID-19 candidate vaccines. The associated factors of vaccination acceptance were identified through a logistic regression analysis and via measurement of the level of anxiety, using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 scale. Results Among the 1512 HCWs who were included, 62.4% were women, 70.3% were between 21 and 40 years of age, and the majority (62.2%) were from tertiary hospitals. In addition, 59.5% reported knowing about at least one vaccine; 24.4% of the participants were sure about their willingness to receive the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, and 20.9% were willing to receive the RNA BNT162b2 vaccine. However, 18.3% reported that they would refuse to receive the Ad5-vectored vaccine, and 17.9% would refuse the Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine. Factors that influenced the differential readiness of HCWs included their perceptions of the vaccine's efficiency in preventing the infection (33%), their personal preferences (29%) and the vaccine's manufacturing country (28.6%). Conclusions Awareness by HCWs of the several COVID-19 candidate vaccines could improve their perceptions and acceptance of vaccination. Reliable sources on vaccine efficiency could improve vaccine uptake, so healthcare authorities should use reliable information to decrease vaccine hesitancy among frontline healthcare providers.