COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance: Knowledge and beliefs

Abstract Objectives: Vaccine acceptance varies across countries, generations, and the perceived personality of individuals. Investigating the knowledge, beliefs, and acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines among individuals is vital to ensuring adequate health system capacity and procedures and promoting the uptake of the vaccines.Methods: A cross-section study was conducted in 2021 to determine COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among Saudi residents using a new Vaccine Acceptability Questionnaire (VAQ). The VAQ contains 31 questions under three broad items: knowledge, beliefs, and underlying factors for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.Results: The study included 281 residents to estimate their acceptance to receive COVID-19 vaccination. Around 70% of the included participants had a moderate to high COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate during the data collection period. The risk increases to about two folds among undergraduates [OR=1.846 (1.034-3.296), p-value=0.036)] and increases to four folds among non-employed [OR=3.944 (2.310-6.737), p-value=0.001]. About 78% of participants with high and 44% with low COVID-19 vaccine acceptance (p-value=0.001) believed the vaccines were safe and effective. The belief that COVID-19 disease will be controlled within two years increased the risk for low vaccine acceptance by about two folds [OR=1.730 (1.035-2.891), p-value =0.035]. Good knowledge about COVID-19 vaccination significantly affected the acceptance rate (p-value =0.001). Conclusions: Several factors affect the intention of individuals to receive vaccines. Therefore, building good knowledge and health literacy through educational intervention programs, especially vaccine safety and effectiveness, is important for successful vaccination campaigns among the general population and ensuring control of the COVID-19 pandemic.