On 6 August 2022, Dr. Raghad Nabeel Saleh published a new study in Vaccines 2022, 10, 1270. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10081270 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines titled Attitudes toward Receiving COVID-19 Booster Dose in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region: A Cross-Sectional Study of 3041 Fully Vaccinated Participants.
The article aimed to determine COVID-19 vaccine booster acceptance and its associated factors in the general population in the MENA region to attain public herd immunity. We conducted an online survey in five countries (Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan) in November and December 2021. The questionnaire included self-reported information about the vaccine type, side effects, fear level, and several demographic factors. Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA was used to associate the fear level with the type of COVID-19 vaccine. Logistic regression was performed to confirm the results and reported as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. The results of this study demonstrated that the main reasons to refuse the booster dose were uncertainties over their safety, belief that the booster dose is unnecessary, and side effects associated with previous COVID-19 vaccine doses. Since the introduction of booster doses has been firmly evidence-driven, efforts to improve public awareness should target the population groups in greatest need through effective scientific communication to overcome vaccine hesitancy and fear.
For more information about the study, please contact the main author at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
