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. 2021 Nov 29;16(11):e0244415.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244415. eCollection 2021.

COVID-19 vaccine confidence and hesitancy among health care workers: A cross-sectional survey from a MERS-CoV experienced nation

Mazin Barry  1 , Mohamad-Hani Temsah  2 , Abdullah Alhuzaimi  3   4 , Nurah Alamro  3   5 , Ayman Al-Eyadhy  2 , Fadi Aljamaan  3   6   7 , Basema Saddik  8 , Ali Alhaboob  2 , Fahad Alsohime  2 , Khalid Alhasan  2 , Abdulkarim Alrabiaah  2 , Ali Alaraj  7   9 , Rabih Halwani  8 , Amr Jamal  3   5 , Sarah Alsubaie  2 , Fatimah S Al-Shahrani  1 , Ziad A Memish  10   11 , Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq  12   13   14
Affiliations

COVID-19 vaccine confidence and hesitancy among health care workers: A cross-sectional survey from a MERS-CoV experienced nation

Mazin Barry et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to identify coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine perception, acceptance, confidence, hesitancy, and barriers among health care workers (HCWs).

Methods: An online national cross-sectional pilot-validated questionnaire was self-administered by HCWs in Saudi Arabia, which is a nation with MERS-CoV experience. The main outcome variable was HCWs' acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine candidates. The factors associated with vaccination acceptance were identified through a logistic regression analysis, and the level of anxiety was measured using a validated instrument to measure general anxiety levels.

Results: Out of the 1512 HCWs who completed the study questionnaire-of which 62.4% were women-70% were willing to receive COVID-19 vaccines. A logistic regression analysis revealed that male HCWs (ORa = 1.551, 95% CI: 1.122-2.144), HCWs who believe in vaccine safety (ORa = 2.151; 95% CI: 1.708-2.708), HCWs who believe that COVID vaccines are the most likely way to stop the pandemic (ORa = 1.539; 95% CI: 1.259-1.881), and HCWs who rely on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for COVID 19 updates (ORa = 1.505, 95% CI: 1.125-2.013) were significantly associated with reporting a willingness to be vaccinated. However, HCWs who believed that the vaccines were rushed without evidence-informed testing were found to be 60% less inclined to accept COVID-19 vaccines (ORa = 0.394, 95% CI: 0.298-0.522).

Conclusion: Most HCWs are willing to receive COVID-19 vaccines once they are available; the satisfactoriness of COVID-19 vaccination among HCWs is crucial because health professionals' knowledge and confidence toward vaccines are important determining factors for not only their own vaccine acceptance but also recommendation for such vaccines to their patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Reasons for unwillingness to receive COVID19 vaccines (N = 177).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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