Intention to get COVID-19 vaccination and its associated predictors: A cross-sectional study among the general public in Algeria.
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Lounis M, Abdelhadi S, Rais MA, Bencherit D, Sallam M
Vacunas - (-) - [2022-05-13; online 2022-05-13]
Hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccination and its rejection remains a major public health concern worldwide, especially in the Middle East and North African countries. The current study aimed to assess the intentions to get COVID-19 vaccines and its determinants among the general public in Algeria. A self-administered online survey was distributed during August-September 2021 using a convenience-based sampling approach. Data were collected anonymously and analyzed using IBM SPSS v22.0 software. The study sample comprised a total of 656 participants, with 51.1% being in favor of COVID-19 vaccines while 18.5% and 30.5% were against or hesitant respectively. Only 38.6% among the study participants got vaccinated. Factors associated with higher odds of acceptance were: male sex, healthcare profession, the belief in natural origin of the pandemic and previous COVID-19 infection in family. The most common cited reasons for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance were the belief that vaccination is the only way to fight COVID-19 and the fear of getting infected by the virus; while the most common reasons of rejection were lack of trust in proper vaccine testing and fear of side effects. The overall level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in this study was below the levels required to achieve population immunity. Besides certain socio-demographic characteristics, the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine rejection included the embrace of conspiratorial ideas regarding the virus and its vaccination. This should be considered in implementation of interventional measures aiming to promote COVID-19 vaccination in the country.
PubMed 35813989
DOI 10.1016/j.vacun.2022.04.003
Crossref 10.1016/j.vacun.2022.04.003
pii: S1576-9887(22)00039-5
pmc: PMC9256516