Mpox Perceptions and Vaccine Advocacy among the Healthcare Workers of Solid Organ Transplant Centers: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Survey in Saudi Arabia

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Khalid Alhasan, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre; Malik Sallam, The University of Jordan; Fadi Aljamaan, King Saud University; Tariq Ali, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Cente; Ahmed Al-jedai, Alfaisal University; Ahmed Nazmi, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre; Aziza Ajlan, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre; Hassan Aleid, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre; Enaam Karar, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre; Moheeb Al-Awwami, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre; Hamad Almojalli, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre; Yaser Z Shah, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre; Amir Eltayeb Ismail Mohammed, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre; Mazin Barry, King Saud University; Sarah Alsubaie, King Saud University; Abdulrahman Altheaby, King Abdulaziz Medical City - Riyadh; Reem S Almaghrabi, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre; Sumayah Askandarani, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam; Ziad Memish, Emory University; Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare; Dieter C Broering, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre; Mohamad H Temsah, King Saud University
• Language: English
• Date: 2023-02-01
• Publisher: MDPI
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2023 by the authors.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11040603
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Healthcare (Switzerland)
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 4
• Grant/Funding Information: This research was not funded by any grant.
• Keywords: Vaccine Advocacy; Mpox Perceptions
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Pathology

Abstract

Background: In response to the global Mpox outbreaks, this survey aimed to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and advocacy of Mpox vaccines among solid organ transplant healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among solid organ transplant HCWs in Saudi Arabia from 15 August to 5 September 2022. A total of 199 responses were received from participants primarily working in the kidney (54.8%) and liver (14.6%) transplant units. Results: The survey found that most participants were aware of the 2022 Mpox outbreak, but the majority were more concerned about COVID-19 than Mpox. While the majority of participants thought laboratory personnel and HCWs in direct contact with Mpox patients should receive the vaccine, less than 60% believed that all HCWs should be vaccinated. Additionally, over half of the participants lacked knowledge of animal–human transmission of the virus. Conclusion: The results highlight the need for increased education on Mpox among transplant HCWs in Saudi Arabia, particularly regarding the virus’s transmission dynamics and vaccines. This education is crucial to improve HCWs’ understanding of this emerging disease, especially given their vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic.