COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Algerian medical students: a cross-sectional study in five universities

Abstract

Vaccine hesitancy is a limiting factor in global efforts to contain the current pandemic, wreaking havoc on public health. As today's students are tomorrow's doctors, it is critical to understand their attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine. To our knowledge, this study was the first national one to look into the attitudes of Algerian medical students toward the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine using an electronic convenience survey. 383 medical students from five Algerian universities were included, with a mean age of 21.02. 85.37% (n=327) of respondents had not taken the COVID-19 vaccine yet and were divided into three groups; the vaccine acceptance group (n=175, 53.51%), the vaccine-hesitant group (n=75, 22.93%), and the vaccine refusal group (n=77, 23.54%). Gender, age, education level, university, and previous experience with COVID-19 were not significant predictors for vaccine acceptance. The confirmed barriers to the COVID-19 vaccine concern available information, effectiveness, safety, and adverse effects. This work highlights the need for an educational strategy about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. Medical students should be educated about the benefits of vaccination for themselves and their families and friends. The Vaccine acceptant students' influence should not be neglected with a possible ambassador role to hesitant and resistant students.

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Associated Factors Among College Students in Dessie City, Northeastern Ethiopia

“…This finding matched the findings of studies in France (58.1%), 40 USA (53%), 37 USA (52.8%), 33 Nigeria (55.5%), 41 UAE (56.3%), 42 Libya (60.9%), 13 and Algeria (53.51%). 24 The current finding was lower than the study conducted in Italy (86.1%), 43 Canada (77.8%), 44 16 countries (69.2%), 45 Italy (91.9%), 46 and Ethiopia (69.3%). 36 However, this finding is higher than the study conducted in Gonder, Ethiopia (34.2%).…”

“…The urgency for vaccination is growing by the day, with increasing numbers of cases and reports of the virus variants across the world. 24 For many years, vaccinations have been regarded as the most effective way to combat infectious diseases that spread quickly, including COVID-19. 2 , 13 The effectiveness of this method will be determined by the rate of vaccination acceptance, which is based on a risk-benefit analysis.…”

“…The data was collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from previous published papers [23][24][25][26][27]29,30,34,[37][38][39][40][41] and contextualized according to the study setting. The questionnaire consists of socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, socio-political perception and attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine, and willingness towards the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine.…”

“…1,21 Many Ethiopians are reluctant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. [24][25][26][27]29,30 Forty eight percent of the study populations are unsure about the COVID-19 vaccines, according to a global assessment of possible COVID-19 vaccine approval. 5 Consequently, in May 2020, the 73rd World Health Assembly passed a resolution endorsing broad immunization as a global public health objective for halting the spread of SARS-CoV-2.…”

Why do people consent to receiving SARS-CoV2 vaccinations? A Representative Survey in Germany

“…Research regarding "vaccine hesitancy" shows that roughly 60% of the population assent to being vaccinated or have already received it, 31 while 20%-25% are against it, and the rest is undecided. [32][33][34][35][36] Especially in Western countriesin Europe, the US and the UK -studies show that the part of the population who is in favor of these new vaccines is comparatively younger, economically better off, more liberal and has more trust in its government, except in the UK, where it is the part of the population that mistrusts the government that assents to being vaccinated. In summary those surveys show that not only medical, but also political reasons are being considered.…”