Monkeypox caused less worry than COVID-19 among the general population during the first month of the WHO Monkeypox alert: Experience from Saudi Arabia

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Mohamad-Hani Temsah, King Saud University, Riyadh; Fadi Aljamaan, King Saud University, Riyadh; Shuliweeh Alenezi, King Saud University, Riyadh; Khalid Alhasan, King Saud University, Riyadh; Basema Saddik, King Saud University, Riyadh; Ahmad Al-Barag, King Saud University, Riyadh; Ali Alhaboob, King Saud University, Riyadh; Nezar Bahabri, Dr Samir Abbas Medical Centers; Fatimah Alshahrani, King Saud University, Riyadh; Abdulkarim Alrabiaah, King Saud University, Riyadh; Ali Alaraj, Al Qassim University; Feras Bahkali, King Saud University, Riyadh; Khaled Alkriadees, King Saud University, Riyadh; Amr Jamal, King Saud University, Riyadh; Rabih Halwani, University of Sharjah; Fahad AlZamil, King Saud University, Riyadh; Sarah Al-Subaie, King Saud University, Riyadh; Mazin Barry, King Saud University, Riyadh; Ziad Memish, Emory University; Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-09-01
• Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2022.102426
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
• Volume: 49
• Start Page: 102426
• End Page: 102426
• Keywords: Monkeypox vaccine acceptance; COVID-19; World Health Organization; Public perceptions; Smallpox Vaccine; Saudi Arabia; Surveys and Questionnaires; Monkeypox; Cross-Sectional Studies; Vaccines; Monkeypox versus COVID-19; Monkeypox worries; Humans
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Mental Health; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Background: Monkeypox re-emerged in May 2022 as another global health threat. This study assessed the public's perception, worries, and vaccine acceptance for Monkeypox and COVID-19 during the first month of WHO announcement. Methods: A large-scale, cross-sectional survey was conducted between May 27 and June 5, 2022, in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, previous infection with COVID-19, worry levels regarding Monkeypox compared to COVID-19, awareness, and perceptions of Monkeypox, and vaccine acceptance. Results: Among the 1546 participants, most respondents (62%) were more worried about COVID-19 than Monkeypox. Respondents aged 45 years and above and those with a university degree or higher had lower odds of agreement with Monkeypox vaccination (OR 0.871, p-value 0.006, OR 0.719, p-value <0.001), respectively. Respondents with moderate to a high level of self and family commitment to infection control precautionary measures and those who expressed self and family worry of Monkeypox infection had significantly higher odds of vaccination agreement (OR 1.089 p-value = 0.047, OR1.395 p-value = 0.003) respectively. On the other hand, respondents who previously developed COVID-19 were significantly more worried about the Monkeypox disease (1.30 times more, p-value = 0.020). Conclusion: Worry levels amongst the public are higher from COVID-19 than Monkeypox. Perception of Monkeypox as a dangerous and virulent disease, worry from contracting the disease, and high commitment to infection precautionary measures were predictors of agreement with Monkeypox vaccination. While advanced age and high education level are predictors of low agreement with vaccination.