Acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccination and its predictors in Egypt: An online survey

Abstract

Introduction: Public acceptance, understanding, and trust are some significant challenges facing COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Our study objective was to assess the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccination and its predictors among the Egyptian adult population.
 Methods: An online survey was conducted on 1,053 participants from six randomly selected governorates in Egypt between March and April 2021 using an Arabic self-administrated questionnaire, developed using the Google Form App.
 Results: Out of the 1,053 participants surveyed, 321 (31.5%) reported that they would accept taking the vaccine when it is available. The main reasons for refusing COVID-19 vaccination were doubt in vaccine effectiveness (80%), lack of trust due to rapid vaccine production (70%), deficiency of information about the vaccine (66%), and fear of vaccine side effects (55%). Regression analysis concluded that previous history of influenza vaccination (p = 0.01), perceived vaccine effectiveness (0.00), vaccine price (p = 0.02), and doctors’ recommendation to take the vaccine (p = 0.03) were the only significant predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.
 Conclusions: Low level of COVID-19 vaccination acceptance has been shown among the Egyptian population. To expand vaccination acceptance and coverage, the government should promote vaccine confidence by increasing the availability of clear, precise, and up-to-date information addressing public concerns. It should also provide free vaccinations and should reach out to doctors for promoting the vaccine.

COVID-19 Vaccination Personas in Syria: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Survey

“…Concerns about safety as well as general lack of trust in the vaccines were the main reasons for vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers in Sudan and Iraq [ 11 , 12 ]. Lack of trust in vaccine effectiveness and fear of side effects were the main reasons for refusing to be vaccinated also among the general population [ 9 , 13 , 14 , 15 ], while the belief in the effectiveness and benefits associated with the COVID-19 vaccination was the main reason for vaccine acceptance [ 14 , 16 ]. Beliefs associated with vaccination status are also the core determinants of vaccination status in Syria.…”

COVID-19 Vaccination Personas in Yemen: Insights from Three Rounds of a Cross-Sectional Survey

“…To date, a large body of evidence stemming from the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Mediterranean region has also documented the link between vaccine beliefs and vaccination status. A study about vaccination among healthcare workers in Egypt, for example, found that the reasons for vaccine acceptance revolved around safety and effectiveness, while fear of side effects was the main reason for vaccine hesitancy [ 17 ]. Concerns about safety as well as a general lack of trust in the vaccines, were the main reason for vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers in Sudan and Iraq [ 18 , 19 ].…”

“…Concerns about safety as well as a general lack of trust in the vaccines, were the main reason for vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers in Sudan and Iraq [ 18 , 19 ]. Lack of trust in vaccine effectiveness and fear of side effects were the also main reasons for refusing to be vaccinated among the general population [ 17 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], while the belief in the effectiveness and benefits associated with the COVID-19 vaccination were the main reasons for vaccine acceptance [ 20 , 23 ].…”

Two versus three doses of COVID-19 vaccine and post-vaccination COVID-19 infection in hemodialysis patients

“…Highly reliable clinical evidence derived from randomized clinical trials confirmed that Sinopharm vaccine reduced the incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 [ 10 ]. Regrettably, the acceptance and immunization rates for COVID-19 vaccines in Egypt are reportedly low [ [11] , [12] , [13] ]. The present study aimed to compare the rate of reinfection after two and three doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in HD patients.…”