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. 2021 Nov 18;21(1):2117.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-12186-6.

COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among Syrian population: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Mosa Shibani  1 , Mhd Amin Alzabibi  2 , Abd El-Fattah Mouhandes  3 , Tamim Alsuliman  4 , Angie Mouki  5 , Hlma Ismail  2 , Shahd Alhayk  2 , Ahmad Abdulateef Rmman  2 , Marah Mansour  6 , Marah Marrawi  7 , Nawras Alhalabi  2   8 , Mhd Baraa Habib  9 , Mhd Kutaiba Albuni  9 , Ahmad Al-Moujahed  10 , Bisher Sawaf  9 ; Data Collection Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among Syrian population: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Mosa Shibani et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 continues to spread globally and in the absence of an effective treatment, the vaccine remains the best hope for controlling this disease. In this study, we seek to find out the extent to which people in Syria accept the Corona vaccine and what are the factors that affect their decision.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Syria during the period from January 3 to March 17, 2021. A structured self-administered questionnaire was distributed in two phases: The first phase included distributing the questionnaire as a Google Form on social media platforms. In the second phase, a paper version of the questionnaire was handed to patients, their companions, and workers in public hospitals. SPSS v.25 and R v.4.1.1 were used to analyze the data. Pearson Chi-square test and Logistic Regression were used to study the associations between categorical groups.

Results: Of 7531 respondents, 3505 (46.5%) were males and 4026 (53.5%) were females. 3124 (41.5%) were 18-24 years old. Healthcare workers were participants' main sources of information (50.9%), followed by Social Media users (46.3%). 2790 (37%) of the participant are willing to be vaccinated, and 2334 (31%) were uncertain about it. Fear of possible side effects was the main reason for the reluctance to take the vaccine 1615 (62.4%), followed by mistrust of the vaccine formula 1522 (58.8%). 2218 (29.5%) participants think COVID-19 poses a major risk to them personally. Vaccination intention was significantly associated with gender, residence, financial status, educational level, and geographic origin.

Conclusion: This study showed very negatively important results. The study participants Vaccination acceptance rate is almost the lowest when compared to its peers. A Lot of efforts should be made to correct misinformation about the vaccine and answer all questions about it, especially with a health system that has been ravaged by war for 10 years.

Keywords: Acceptance; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Syria; Vaccine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
When the vaccine become available to you, how likely is it that you will have one?
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
If the vaccine is available for free, what are the reasons to not have one?
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Total Coronavirus Cases in Syria [https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/syria/].
    1. Syrian Arab Republic: 2021 Needs and Response Summary (February 2021) [https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/syrian-arab-republic-2...].

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