COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Hesitancy (VBH) and Its Drivers in Algeria: National Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study

Abstract

Due to the emergence of various highly contagious variants of SARS-CoV-2, vaccine boosters were adopted as a complementary strategy in different countries. This strategy has, however, posed another challenge for the national authorities to convince their population to receive the booster after the first challenge of COVID-19 primer dose vaccines. This study was conducted to determine COVID-19 vaccine booster acceptance and its associated factors in the general population in Algeria. Using social media platforms, an online self-administered questionnaire was distributed between 28 January and 5 March 2022 for all Algerian citizens who received COVID-19 vaccines. Overall, 787 respondents were included in this study. Among them, 51.6%, 25%, and 23.8% accepted, rejected, or were hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine booster, respectively. However, only 13.2% declared receiving the booster dose. Additionally, while 58.2% of the respondents declared being relieved after primer vaccination, 11.4% among them declared that they regretted being vaccinated. The most common reasons for acceptance were experts’ recommendations (24.6%) and the belief that COVID-19 vaccine boosters were necessary and efficient, while rejection was mainly due to the belief that primer doses are sufficient (15.5%), or that vaccination in general is inefficient (8%). Males, older individuals, those with chronic comorbidities or a history of COVID-19 infection, non-healthcare workers, and those with low educational levels were associated with significantly higher odds for booster acceptance. Moreover, belief that booster doses were necessary and efficient, disagreeing with the notion that primer doses were not sufficient, experts’ recommendations, and the desire to travel abroad were significantly associated with higher odds of COVID-19 vaccine booster acceptance.

Predictors of second COVID-19 booster dose or new COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among nurses: a cross-sectional study

“…This finding is confirmed by a national cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia investigating first vaccine booster acceptability among healthcare workers (Alhasan et al, 2021). Moreover, several studies suggest that trust in COVID-19 booster doses increases willingness of the public to accept a first COVID-19 booster (Lai et al, 2021; Lounis et al, 2022; Rzymski et al, 2021). Low levels of confidence in COVID-19 are a significant obstacle for booster doses uptake and policymakers should strength public trust in booster safety.…”

“…Side effects after COVID-19 vaccination are common, but they are usually mild and self-limited (Dighriri et al, 2022). Moreover, literature suggest that side effects after the primer COVID-19 vaccine doses decreases intention of the individuals to accept the first booster dose (Al-Qerem et al, 2022; Lounis et al, 2022; Miao et al, 2022; Rzymski et al, 2021; Wu et al, 2022). Chrissian et al found that healthcare workers who missed work due to vaccine-related symptoms after the primer doses were less likely to accept future booster doses (Chrissian et al, 2022).…”

“…Literature confirms our findings since healthcare workers with chronic conditions are more willing to accept the primer COVID-19 vaccine doses (Wang et al, 2020). Moreover, public acceptance of the first booster dose is higher among individuals with chronic diseases (Lounis et al, 2022; Paul & Fancourt, 2022; Rzymski et al, 2021). Self-perceived risk of infection is associated with vaccine acceptance (Gagneux-Brunon et al, 2021), while healthcare workers considering themselves at risk of severe COVID-19 are more likely to accept a COVID-19 vaccine (Neumann-Böhme et al, 2020).…”

Hesitancy towards the Third Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine among the Younger Generation in Japan

“…Moreover, the existing literature shows that the magnitude of hesitancy towards the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and its causes differ across the countries [ 21 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Lounis et al [ 29 ] shows that vaccine acceptance rates range from 61.8% to 98% in the developed countries such as the USA, the UK, Japan, Germany, and Poland. Common factors that are responsible for the hesitancy towards the third dose of vaccine include younger age, being unmarried or single, lower education, and lower confidence in vaccines [ 20 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”

“…Lounis et al [ 29 ] shows that vaccine acceptance rates range from 61.8% to 98% in the developed countries such as the USA, the UK, Japan, Germany, and Poland. Common factors that are responsible for the hesitancy towards the third dose of vaccine include younger age, being unmarried or single, lower education, and lower confidence in vaccines [ 20 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Moreover, several studies show that the uncertainty about the need for an additional dose, perceived effectiveness of vaccines, safety issues, and adverse side effects of initial doses are also responsible for booster vaccine hesitancy [ 4 , 22 , 31 , 32 ].…”