Childhood vaccination hesitancy in Saudi Arabia: A time for action

Alamer, Faisal; Alamir, Ahmed; Aljohani, Sara; Alsumih, Norah; Hiji, Faris; Alhammadi, Moza; Almuneef, Maha

doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2021.11.009

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…However, around 23.4% of parents reported that their child's vaccination was delayed by over a month. Studies also demonstrated the increase in vaccination hesitancy following the COVID-19 pandemic and its vaccination campaign [15,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Contributing to the Delayed Vaccination Among Children in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Alghofaili,

Aljuaid,

Alqahtani

et al. 2023

Cureus

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BackgroundImmunizations protect children from deadly infectious diseases.The timeliness of vaccinating children is crucial to ensure effective immunization and to decrease the burden of many infectious diseases. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence and determinants of vaccination delay among children in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted at the primary healthcare centers in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, on 593 parents with children of two years of age or below. It used a self-administered questionnaire inquiring about socio-demographic characteristics and assessing the vaccination statuses of their children and the causes of delayed vaccinations. ResultsThe results showed that 7.1% of children had a delay in the previous vaccination. Of those delays, collectively, 77.5% were delays in inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV), oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), and meningococcal vaccine (MCV) vaccines. The delay was mostly caused by an illness of the child on vaccination day, carelessness of parents, or long postponement. After adjusting for confounders, the father's high school or bachelor's education level (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.36) (p<0.05), child's mix-type nutrition (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.10) (p=0.001), and the belief that multiple vaccines are harmful to the child (POR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.06) (p=0.005) were positively associated with vaccination delay, while prematurity was negatively associated with vaccination delay (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93, 0.99) (p=0.031). ConclusionThe study found the prevalence of vaccination delay was lower than in previous COVID-19-era studies. The child's illness was the main reason for the delay. Factors like parental education, nutrition type, and vaccine beliefs contributed to delays, while prematurity reduced delays. Measures should be strengthened to increase vaccination coverage for children.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Contributing to the Delayed Vaccination Among Children in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Alghofaili,

Aljuaid,

Alqahtani

et al. 2023

Cureus

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“…Like the United States, the findings will help tailor an individualized educational program for vaccine-hesitant parents [38]. Alternatively, childhood vaccination will increase, as it is reported to be very low in Saudi Arabia [39][40][41]. Delays in vaccination were influenced by factors such as parental education, nutrition preferences, and vaccine-related beliefs, while prematurity was associated with a decreased likelihood of delays.…”

Section: Impactmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…By analyzing the predictors from different stakeholders [47][48][49][50][51], the study's findings are likely to have direct policy implications. Tailored vaccination strategies can be developed based on the identified factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy [41][42][43]52]. Policy recommendations can help improve acceptance rates and strengthen vaccination programs in Saudi Arabia, ultimately enhancing public health outcomes.…”

Section: Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Underlying Vaccine Hesitancy and Their Mitigations in Saudi Arabia: Protocol for a Systematic Review

Kanan,

Abdulrahman,

Alshehri

et al. 2024

JMIR Res Protoc

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Background Vaccine hesitancy is a growing concern in Saudi Arabia, impacting even well-educated parents. The decision-making process involves various factors such as accessibility, trustworthy information, and the influence of social networks, reflecting a complex interplay of emotional, cultural, social, spiritual, and political dimensions. Objective This review seeks to evaluate the prevalence and trends of vaccine hesitancy, identify contributing factors, and explore potential solutions to enhance immunization rates. This review aligns with global concerns, as the World Health Organization has identified vaccine hesitancy as a top global health threat. Methods Our systematic review will follow the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Study) criteria for comprehensive assessment. We will conduct a thorough search across various databases, encompassing a wide range of vaccines, and pay special attention to vaccination campaigns and refusals. Inclusion criteria involve descriptive, observational, and analytical studies focusing on factors influencing vaccine acceptance or hesitancy. The study will use the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool for quality assessment and perform a narrative synthesis to summarize findings thematically. Results This systematic review is expected to unveil the prevalence and trends of vaccine hesitancy in diverse populations in Saudi Arabia, shedding light on cultural, religious, and social factors contributing to hesitancy. It aims to assess the effectiveness of implemented strategies, enable regional and global comparisons, and provide implications for tailored vaccination policies. Additionally, the review may pinpoint research gaps, guiding future investigations to address and mitigate vaccine hesitancy effectively. Conclusions The findings are expected to have direct policy implications and guide interventions to strengthen vaccination programs and improve public health outcomes. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/54680

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“…Education, income levels (p=0.004), and the influence of the leader were found to be the factors related to this attitude among Saudi Arabians [ 14 ]. On the other hand, a study by Alamer et al found that 24% of healthcare workers disagreed with the Saudi Ministry of Health (MoH)'s vaccination schedule, while 14% of them were unwilling to recommend or receive the vaccine in general, and 6% believed that the SIV strongly correlated with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and 8% thought there is an association between measles vaccine and autism [ 16 ]. Although vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective, hesitancy toward flu vaccination persists.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of Flu Vaccine Uptake Among the General Population in Saudi Arabia: A Study Based on the Health Belief Model

Alsuwailem,

Okmi,

Alkhaldi

et al. 2023

Cureus

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Background and objectiveRecently, influenza has emerged as a significant public health concern worldwide, including in Saudi Arabia. Vaccination against the flu is widely recognized as a crucial preventive measure to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with the virus. However, the uptake of flu vaccines among the general population in Saudi Arabia still remains low. In light of this, this study aimed to examine the determinants of influenza vaccine uptake in Saudi Arabia by using the Health Belief Model (HBM). MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted among adults living in all regions of Saudi Arabia by using an online self-administered questionnaire based on the HBM. The questionnaire inquired about demographics, knowledge about influenza, knowledge about vaccines, and beliefs/barriers. It was distributed via social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Twitter, and Instagram. IBM SPSS Statistics software version 29 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) was used for statistical analyses, and both the Chi-square test and logic regression analyses were applied to determine associations between explanatory and response variables, with the level of significance set at p<0.05. ResultsThis study enrolled a total of 1040 participants, and the majority were Saudi nationals (96.9%). Of note, 66.2% of the participants were males, and the rest were females. Most of the participants were employed by governmental institutions (42.0%), had bachelor's degrees (58.4%), had never worked in the health sector (70.2%), and earned above 10,000 Saudi riyals per month (62.1%). Over half (55.7%) of participants had taken the flu vaccine at the time of this study. Working in the healthcare sector was associated with increased flu vaccine uptake [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.84, p<0.001]. The likelihood of getting the flu vaccines was greater among men (aOR: 1.38, p=0.027), and obesity was associated with lower flu vaccine uptake (aOR: 0.29, p=0.034). Having contact with people with flu, having had flu in the past, and experiencing severe flu complications (aOR: 4.71, p=0.029; aOR: 0.13, p=0.006; and aOR: 0.29, p=0.033, respectively) were significantly associated with the flu vaccine uptake among our study participants. Perceived potential risks of the flu vaccine were also associated with taking the flu vaccine (aOR: 0.213, p=0.042). There was a significant association between seeing an advertisement for the flu vaccine and the likelihood of taking the vaccine (aOR: 5.488, p=0.042). ConclusionThis study found that certain sociodemographic factors are associated with flu vaccine uptake. These factors included contact with flu-infected individuals, past experiences with flu, perceived risks, and exposure to flu vaccine advertisements. Improving healthcare accessibility, conducting awareness campaigns, and implementing workplace initiatives are recommended to address the issues related to flu vaccine uptake.

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Childhood vaccination hesitancy in Saudi Arabia: A time for action

Cited by 8 publications

References 19 publications

Factors Contributing to the Delayed Vaccination Among Children in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Factors Contributing to the Delayed Vaccination Among Children in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Factors Underlying Vaccine Hesitancy and Their Mitigations in Saudi Arabia: Protocol for a Systematic Review

Determinants of Flu Vaccine Uptake Among the General Population in Saudi Arabia: A Study Based on the Health Belief Model

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