Investigating the reasons for COVID-19 vaccination refusal in Ahvaz, Iran: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Around 70% of the Iranian population had received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2021. In this study we evaluated the reasons of vaccination refusal among people in Ahvaz, Iran. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 800 participants (400 had been vaccinated and 400 had not) were recruited. A demographic questionnaire was completed by interview. The participants who had not received vaccination were asked about the reasons of their refusal, and their answers were recorded. The Shapiro-Wilk test, the independent t-test, Chi-square test, and logistic regression were used for analyzing data. Results Older people were 1.018 times more likely to refrain from vaccination (95% CI: 1.001–1.039). People who were manual workers as well as those who were unemployed/ housewife were .288 and .423 times less likely to receive vaccination, respectively. Illiterate people, and those with high school education were 0.029, and .319 times less likely to receive vaccination (95% CI: 0.007–0.119, and .198-.515, respectively). Participants who had hypertension or suffered from neurological disorders were more likely to receive vaccination. Finally, people affected with severe COVID-19 infection were 3.157 times more likely to get vaccinated (95% CI: 1.672–5.961). Having no trust in the ten existing vaccines in Iran and unacceptance of vaccination were among the top reasons for refusal of vaccination. Conclusion The results of this study showed that lower level of education and older age were contributed to reluctance for vaccination, while having chronic diseases or being already infected with severe COVID-19 infection were associated with more acceptance of vaccination.