Community Perception and Attitude towards COVID-19 Vaccination for Children in Saudi Arabia

Waddah M Alalmaei Asiri; Ayed A Shati; Syed E Mahmood; Saleh M Al-Qahtani; Youssef A Alqahtani; Raghad M Alhussain; Noura A Alshehri

doi:10.3390/vaccines11020250

Community Perception and Attitude towards COVID-19 Vaccination for Children in Saudi Arabia

Vaccines (Basel). 2023 Jan 22;11(2):250. doi: 10.3390/vaccines11020250.

Authors

Waddah M Alalmaei Asiri¹, Ayed A Shati², Syed E Mahmood³, Saleh M Al-Qahtani², Youssef A Alqahtani², Raghad M Alhussain⁴, Noura A Alshehri⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia.
³ Family and Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Introduction: Vaccines are an important part of the COVID-19 pandemic response plan. This study was undertaken to find out the percentage of supporters in the Saudi population for COVID-19 vaccination among children, and to assess the study population's perceptions towards COVID-19 vaccination among children.

Material and methods: This nationwide study adopted a cross-sectional survey of adult participants, conducted by trained medical students. The anonymous questionnaire was published on social media tools. Statistical analysis was conducted using two-tailed tests.

Results: Six hundred and twenty (620) participants were recruited for this study. Nearly 17.0% of participants had a chronic health problem/comorbidity. About 28.7% of the study participants reported having COVID-19 infection. The COVID-19 vaccine was received among 94.7% of the study respondents. The majority of the vaccination supporters (89.0%) wanted to get the third dose. There was a statistically significant association between the participant's attitudes towards getting vaccinated themselves, and their attitude towards children's vaccination. Vaccine newness, as a reason for hesitating to get vaccinated, was most reported among non-vaccine supporters. False religious beliefs were found to significantly influence the opposing attitude towards children's vaccination.

Conclusion: Health professionals and policy makers should implement and support strategies to ensure children are vaccinated against COVID-19. They also need to educate parents and families regarding the importance of vaccination against COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Saudi Arabia; attitude; children; community; perception; vaccination.

Grants and funding

KKU-IFP2-DC-2./The authors extend their appreciation to the Ministry of Education in KSA for funding this research work through the project number KKU-IFP2-DC-2.