Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions toward COVID-19 Vaccinations in Saudi Population

Bader Al Tulaihi; Ghalia Mustafa Salamah; Turki Mari Alshahrani; Kholoud A. Bin Haikel; Sara Mohammed Al Eraij; Roqaih Raja Alsaeed; Muath Owaidh Alilaj; Tufol Abdullah Alzaid

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2023.11369

Authors

Bader Al Tulaihi Family Medicine Consultant, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0235-254X
Ghalia Mustafa Salamah Associate Concsulatnt of FM, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Turki Mari Alshahrani Associate Concsulatnt of FM, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Kholoud A. Bin Haikel Associate Concsulatnt of FM, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7497-5853
Sara Mohammed Al Eraij Associate Concsulatnt of FM, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3856-9791
Roqaih Raja Alsaeed Associate Concsulatnt of FM, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Muath Owaidh Alilaj Associate Concsulatnt of FM, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Tufol Abdullah Alzaid Associate Concsulatnt of FM https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2055-2238

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2023.11369

Keywords:

COVID-19 vaccine, Knowledge, Attitude, Perception

Abstract

AIM: The objective is to explore the general perception, knowledge, and attitude of people in Saudi Arabia toward the COVID-19 vaccination.

METHODS: An observational and cross-sectional study was conducted with 332 Saudi adult population attending primary health centers in King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between May and July2021 using a self-administered questionnaire. All adults, equal, or older than 18 years old of both genders during the period of the study were included and the only exclusion criteria are the age and patient with psychiatric disorder. We use convenience-sampling technique, due to the difficulty to generate sampling frame. Data are going to be entered and analyzed using Statistics Package for the Social Science version 21 software in August 2021.

RESULTS: Majority of participants (93.4%) had good knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines, regarding attitude more than 50% have positive attitude toward vaccination. Despite this high level on acceptance 48.5% of the participant in this study disclosed that they are not aware of vaccine side effects. With regard to perception, 66.9% of our study subjects believed that vaccination is necessary to eradicate COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, 72.4% thought that everyone should be vaccinated, starting with general public 74.5%, then health worker 57.9%.

CONCLUSION: Almost most of Saudi population aware about the COVID-19 vaccines. Most Saudi people knew about it through media. A long-term side effect of getting vaccines is the main obstacles toward vaccine acceptance.

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