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. 2021 Jul;93(7):4280-4291.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.26910. Epub 2021 Mar 25.

Vaccine hesitancy: Beliefs and barriers associated with COVID-19 vaccination among Egyptian medical students

Shimaa M Saied  1 , Eman M Saied  2 , Ibrahim Ali Kabbash  1 , Sanaa Abd El-Fatah Abdo  1
Affiliations

Vaccine hesitancy: Beliefs and barriers associated with COVID-19 vaccination among Egyptian medical students

Shimaa M Saied et al. J Med Virol. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Vaccine hesitancy poses serious challenges for achieving coverage for population immunity. It is necessary to achieve high COVID-19 vaccination acceptance rates and medical students' coverage as future health care providers. The study aimed to explore the level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and determine the factors and barriers that may affect vaccination decision-making.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among medical students in Tanta and Kafrelsheikh Universities, Egypt. Data collection was done via an online questionnaire during January 2021 from 2133 students.

Results: The majority of the participant students (90.5%) perceived the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine, 46% had vaccination hesitancy, and an equal percentage (6%) either definitely accepted or refused the vaccine. Most of the students had concerns regarding the vaccine's adverse effects (96.8%) and ineffectiveness (93.2%). The most confirmed barriers of COVID-19 vaccination were deficient data regarding the vaccine's adverse effects (potential 74.17% and unknown 56.31%) and insufficient information regarding the vaccine itself (72.76%).

Conclusion: The government, health authority decision-makers, medical experts, and universities in Egypt need to work together and make efforts to reduce hesitancy and raise awareness about vaccinations, consequently improving the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines.

Keywords: COVID-19; medical students; vaccine acceptance; vaccine hesitancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors declare no known competing conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
COVID‐19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among respondents
Figure 2
Figure 2
Type of COVID‐19 vaccine preference among respondents
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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