Public Confidence in Non-COVID Vaccines: Influenza, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and Childhood Immunizations in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected global attitudes toward vaccines. Although COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be both effective and safe, they continue to face hesitancy and misinformation. The current study assessed the impact of the pandemic on trust in routine vaccines, offering insights to improve vaccine acceptance and coverage. Moreover, the study identified the impact of demographic and socio-economic factors on vaccine confidence in Western Saudi Arabia. Methods This observational cross-sectional online survey study was carried out between January and February 2025, focusing on adult individuals in Western Saudi Arabia. Data collection involved a revised questionnaire, which was adapted from a previously validated version through Google Forms (Google, Mountain View, CA) online and included responses from participants' demographic information, the Vaccine Trust Gauge, and questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics, Version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). A descriptive analysis was utilized to summarize categorical data through the use of counts and percentages. Fisher's Exact test and multinomial logistic regression assessed the relationship between demographic characteristics and COVID-19 vaccine perspectives and vaccine trust levels. A significance level of 0.05 was established as the threshold for statistical significance. Results Out of 373, 195 (52.3%) of the participants were female individuals. The age distribution revealed that 134 (35.9%) were between 21 and 30, while 124 (33.2%) fell within the 31-40 age range. The majority of participants were Saudi nationals, 351 (94.1%), and not healthcare workers, 296 (79.4%). Additionally, 207 (55.5%) participants held bachelor's degrees. A significant portion of the participants demonstrated a high level of vaccine trust, with 296 (79.4%) expressing confidence in the vaccine, such as influenza, human papillomavirus (HPV), and childhood immunizations. Most participants were aware of the COVID-19 vaccine (97.6%). The study identified significant impacts of demographic characteristics on vaccine trust levels by using Fisher's Exact test. Age (p=0.031), gender (p=0.046), and nationality (p=0.006) all showed notable differences. Furthermore, perspectives on the COVID-19 vaccine significantly influenced vaccine trust levels (p<0.001), indicating strong statistical significance. Conclusion Our study found high vaccine trust in Western Saudi Arabia, with younger participants, Saudi nationals, and female individuals showing the most trust. The perception of COVID-19 vaccines significantly influenced overall vaccine trust, highlighting the need for effective communication about vaccine safety. These findings suggest that addressing demographic differences and specific concerns can enhance vaccine trust and uptake.

Keywords: covid-19; immunization; saudi arabia; vaccine confidence; vaccine trust; western region.