Knowledge and attitudes of Saudi populations regarding seasonal influenza vaccination

Abstract

The World Health Organization Global Vaccine Action Plan aims to accelerate the control of preventable diseases, including seasonal influenza; however, seasonal influenza vaccination reluctance persists. The current study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of Saudi nationals regarding seasonal influenza vaccinations. An anonymous questionnaire was targeted to Saudi nationals for self-enrolment in this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and chi-squared analyses. This study included 1298 Saudi nationals (745 males and 553 females) who were ≥19 years old. A total of 44.53% of the participants had been vaccinated with the seasonal influenza vaccine. In total, 26.96% of the participants were certain that there were no contradictions between the influenza vaccine and other childhood vaccines and 36.67% knew that individuals with chronic diseases should be given the seasonal influenza vaccine. By contrast, only 123 of the participants (9.48%) understood that pregnant women could be vaccinated with the influenza vaccine. Vaccinated participants in our study showed a higher level of knowledge compared to non-vaccinated participants. Most of the participants reported that the most reliable source of information was healthcare worker advice. The current study provides important information regarding misperceptions in public attitudes towards seasonal influenza vaccinations; these data can be used to plan strategies to address existing gaps in healthcare.

Vaccinations and Chronic Diseases: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Self-Reported Adherence among Patients in Italy

“…These findings were in accordance with those on adulthood in the same geographical area, in which only 35.4% knew that vaccination against influenza is recommended for patients with chronic diseases [9]. A lower level was found in the US [28], where only 19.6% of adults aged ≥18 years were knowledgeable, whereas higher levels, although in different populations, were found in France [29] and Saudi Arabia [30] where 39% and 36.7%, respectively, knew that people with chronic diseases should receive a vaccine, and in Turkey where almost half of the hospitalized participants stated that pneumococcal vaccination was necessary [31]. The low level of knowledge is worrying because it could be a barrier to the demand for preventive measures that can improve the health status of patients with chronic diseases.…”

Meningococcal disease surveillance in the Asia–Pacific region (2020): The global meningococcal initiative

“…116 In general, a small proportion of pilgrims do not want to be vaccinated owing to misconceptions regarding immunization, such as vaccines weakening the immune system and not being safe. 117 There has also been evidence of certain Muslim communities refusing vaccination on religious grounds; 118 although, the Islamic faith generally recognizes vaccination as a means to protect life. 119…”

Beliefs and Barriers Associated with COVID-19 Vaccination Among the General Population in Saudi Arabia

“…A recently published review [10] demonstrated that vaccine acceptance and hesitancy vary at the global context. In Saudi Arabia, a COVID-19 vaccine is expected to face signi cant public hesitancy given the current public hesitancy toward seasonal in uenza vaccination [11,12]. Thus, the study aimed to assess the beliefs of Saudi Arabians toward eventual COVID-19 vaccination and to uncover the barriers associated with vaccination among the general population in Saudi Arabia.…”