Exploring enablers and barriers toward COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among Arabs: A qualitative study

Iffat Elbarazi; Mohamed Yacoub; Omar Ahmed Reyad; Marwa Shawky Abdou; Yasir Ahmed Mohammed Elhadi; Khalid A Kheirallah; Bayan F Ababneh; Bayan Abu Hamada; Haider M El Saeh; Nancy Ali; Azhar T Rahma; Mohamed Mostafa Tahoun; Ramy Mohamed Ghazy

doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103304

Exploring enablers and barriers toward COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among Arabs: A qualitative study

Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2022 Nov:82:103304. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103304. Epub 2022 Sep 29.

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, AlAin, United Arab Emirates.
² English Department, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
³ Internal Medicine and Cardiology Clinical Pharmacy Department, Alexandria Main University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt.
⁴ Department of Epidemiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt.
⁵ Department of Public Health, Medical Research Office, Sudanese Medical Research Association, Khartoum, Sudan.
⁶ Department of Public Health, Medical School of Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
⁷ Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.
⁸ Department of Communication and Media, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, USA.
⁹ Tropical Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: With the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and rapid vaccine development, research interest in vaccine hesitancy (VH) has increased. Research usually focuses on quantitative estimates which largely neglected the qualitative underpinnings of this phenomenon. This study aimed to explore the beliefs and views towards COVID-19 vaccination among Arabs in different countries. Furthermore, we explored the effect of confidence in the healthcare system, misinformation, and scientific approaches adopted to mitigate COVID-19 on how individuals are following the recommended preventative actions including vaccination.

Methods: This study was based on the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE)-VH Model: A qualitative design that utilized in-depth, online interviews. The study was conducted in seven Arab countries (Egypt, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Libya, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Jordan) from June 2020 to December 2021. Transcripts were analyzed using NVivo 12 Software.

Results: A total of 100 participants, 44 males and 56 females, of different age groups (37.1 ± 11.56 years) were interviewed. Findings revealed six themes as enablers and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination. Many participants indicated trusting the vaccines, the healthcare systems, and the vaccination policies were the main driver to get the vaccine. Participants showed concerns towards potential long-term vaccine effects. A consistent inclination towards collective responsibility, which is the willingness to protect others by own vaccination, was also reported.

Conclusion: Enablers and barriers of COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in the Arab region, from sociocultural and political perspectives, are critical to guide policymakers in designing target-oriented interventions that can improve vaccine acceptance.

Keywords: Arab Countries; COVID-19; COVID-19, Coronavirus disease 2019; ECDC, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control; GDP, Gross Domestic Product; HCWs, Health care workers; KSA, Kingdom of Saudia Arabia; LMIC, Low- and middle-income countries; PI, Principal investigator; Qualitative; SAGE; SAGE, Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization; SARS-CoV-2; UAE, United Arab Emirates; US, United States; VH, Vaccine hesitancy; Vaccine acceptance; Vaccine hesitancy; WHO, World Health Organization.