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SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant: Exploring Healthcare Workers' Awareness and Perception of Vaccine Effectiveness: A National Survey During the First Week of WHO Variant Alert

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Last modified
  • 05/21/2025
Type of Material
Authors
    Mohamad-Hani Temsah, King Saud University, RiyadhFadi Aljamaan, King Saud University, RiyadhShuliweeh Alenezi, King Saud University, RiyadhKhalid Alhasan, King Saud University, RiyadhAbdulkarim Alrabiaah, King Saud University, RiyadhRasha Assiri, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman UniversityRolan Bassrawi, King Saud UniversityAli Alhaboob, King Saud UniversityFatimah Alshahrani, King Saud UniversityMohammed Alarabi, King Saud UniversityAli Alaraj, Al Qassim UniversityNasser S Alharbi, King Saud UniversityRabih Halwani, University of SharjahAmr Jamal, King Saud UniversityAyman Al-Eyadhy, King Saud UniversityNaif AbdulMajeed, King Saud UniversityLina Alfarra, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Mishari HospitalWafa Almashdali, Dr. Fatina Imran Medical ComplexAmel Fayed, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman UniversityFahad Alzamil, King Saud UniversityMazin Barry, King Saud UniversityZiad Memish, Emory UniversityJaffar A Al-Tawfiq, Johns Hopkins Aramco HealthcareSarah Alsubaie, King Saud University
Language
  • English
Date
  • 2022-03-25
Publisher
  • Frontiers Media S.A
Publication Version
Copyright Statement
  • © 2022 Temsah, Aljamaan, Alenezi, Alhasan, Alrabiaah, Assiri, Bassrawi, Alhaboob, Alshahrani, Alarabi, Alaraj, Alharbi, Halwani, Jamal, Al-Eyadhy, AbdulMajeed, Alfarra, Almashdali, Fayed, Alzamil, Barry, Memish, Al-Tawfiq and Alsubaie.
License
Final Published Version (URL)
Title of Journal or Parent Work
Volume
  • 10
Start Page
  • 878159
End Page
  • 878159
Grant/Funding Information
  • This project was funded by Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University researchers supporting project (number PNURSP2022R21) Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
  • Background: As the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant spreads in several countries, healthcare workers' (HCWs) perceptions and worries regarding vaccine effectiveness and boosters warrant reassessment. Methods: An online questionnaire among HCWs in Saudi Arabia (KSA) was distributed from Dec 1st−6th 2021 to assess their perceptions, vaccine advocacy to the Omicron variant, and their perception of the effectiveness of infection prevention measures and vaccination to prevent its spread, their Omicron variant related worries in comparison to the other variants, and their agreement with mandatory vaccination in general for adults. Results: Among the 1,285 HCW participants, two-thirds were female, 49.8 % were nurses, 46.4% were physicians, and 50.0% worked in tertiary care hospitals. 66.9% considered vaccination to be the most effective way to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant and future variants. The respondents however perceived social distancing (78.0%), universal masking (77.8%), and avoiding unnecessary travel (71.4%) as slightly superior to vaccination to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants. HCWs aging 55 or older agreed significantly with vaccine ineffectiveness to control Omicron spread, while those who believed in non-pharmacological infection prevention measures agreed significantly with vaccination for that purpose. Male HCWs had a significant agreement with mandatory vaccination of all eligible adult populations. On the other hand, unwilling HCWs to receive the vaccine had strong disagreements with mandatory vaccination. Conclusions: The current study in the first week of Omicron showed that only two-thirds of HCWs felt that vaccination was the best option to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant, indicating the need for further motivation campaigns for vaccination and booster dose. HCWs had a strong belief in infection prevention measures to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants that should be encouraged and augmented.
Author Notes
Keywords
Research Categories
  • Health Sciences, Public Health
  • Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

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