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Review ArticleReview Article
Open Access

Childhood vaccination hesitancy in Saudi Arabia: are we still facing a problem?

A narrative review

Abdulrahman A. Bin Alamir
Saudi Medical Journal June 2024, 45 (6) 551-559; DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2024.45.6.20240116
Abdulrahman A. Bin Alamir
From the Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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    Figure 1

    - Flowchart of selection of articles for review.

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    Figure 2

    - Graphical presentation of the prevalence of parental vaccine hesitancy in Saudi Arabia based on several studies.21-38

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    Table 1

    - Summary of the research articles included in the review (N=18).

    AuthorsDesign of the studyPlace of studySample sizePrevalence of vaccine hesitancyFactors influencing vaccine hesitancy
    Alzahrani et al21Cross sectional 30140.0%Worries regarding adverse reactions, believing that vaccines are unsafe, and believing that fewer shots are required.
    Rehman et al22Cross sectional 147851.6%Vaccines would affect their kids’ ability to conceive or reach puberty.
    Iqbal et al23Cross sectionalCentral Saudi Arabia150734.4%Fear of adverse consequences.
    Majzoub et al24Cross sectionalEastern Province39935.0%Fear of adverse effects, scepticism regarding vaccine efficacy, exposure to harmful information on the vaccine.
    Ashour et al25Cross sectionalRiyadh293Positive: 78.0% vaccinatedDelayed vaccination until mandatory (40.0%), concerns on side effects (unknown percentage), perception of need for the vaccine.
    Alhuzaimi et al26Cross sectionalSaudi Arabia873High acceptance (96.9%)Inadequate information on vaccine safety (48.0%) and side effects concerns and fears (49.0%).
    Almuqbil et al27Cross sectionalRiyadh69933.0% hesitant, 25.0% undecidedApprehensions over adverse reactions (31.4%), an absence of safety information (31.2%), and data from social media (24.3%).
    Albaker et al28Cross sectionalSaudi Arabia9018.8% extremely confidentPhysician factors: confidence in vaccine-specific knowledge (18.8%), communication skills (22.2%), challenges in vaccine discussions.
    Almalki et al29Cross sectionalAll regions413561.9%Parents had views that the vaccination had limited benefits or was hazardous.
    Almansour et al30Cross sectional 50042.2%Fear of adverse consequences.
    Alaamri et al31Descriptive observational mixed methodSaudi Arabia2030Low hesitancy (91% agreement)Emotional, cultural, social, spiritual, and political aspects; lack of information; and misinformation.
    Aedh et al32Cross sectionalRiyadh46472.2% hesitancyDemographic factors: age, education, income, occupation; concerns on side effects, lack of safety data, social media influence.
    Khatatbeh et al33Cross sectional (multi country survey)Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, and the United Arab Emirates3744Positive: 32% vaccinatedThe primary concern (32.5%) is vaccine safety. Factors to consider include the age of the parents, their educational background, their work, vaccination status, and whether they have had a previous COVID-19 infection.
    Aldakhil et al34Cross sectionalNot specified27024.31% hesitantConcerns on side effects (50.0%)
    Alnasser et al35Cross sectionalRiyadh11931% reluctant to get vaccinatedFamiliarity with vaccine hesitancy (66.0%), lack of formal training (68.0%), and negative attitudes toward hesitant parents (65.0%)
    Alsubaie et al36Cross sectionalSaudi Arabia50020.0%Fear of adverse reactions and doubts on the efficacy of vaccination.
    Albarakati et al37Cross sectional 10031.3%Vaccine shortages in primary care settings, anxiety regarding side effects and vaccine safety, and congested immunization schedules.
    Alqahtani et al38Cross sectionalAseer Region7963.9% non-adherentThe majority of individuals expressed side effects concrens (93.8%), hold the idea that immunizations are not entirely safe (84.4%), and believe that less vaccines are necessary (78.1%).
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    Table 2

    - The studies carried out in different regions of Saudi Arabia on awareness among the participants.

    AuthorsAwareness among the participants
    Alqahtani et al21High awareness: 89.3% of respondents agreed that vaccinations are useful in maintaining the health of children, while 84.2% expressed confidence in vaccines safety and efficacy. Additionally, 83.4% of participants acknowledged the effectiveness of Saudi Arabia’s immunization program according to its established schedule.
    Alzahrani et al22Influenced by COVID-19 (52.5%), sources: physicians (34.9%), online sources (27.9%), and social networking sites (16.6%).
    Ashour et al25Knowledge: 45.0% had excellent knowledge of COVID-19 vaccine, 62.0% had a positive attitude.
    Almuqbil et al29Knowledge: 45.0% excellent, 62.0% positive attitude; concerns: side effects (31.4%), lack of safety data (31.2%).
    Aldakhil et al30Importance of vaccine (79.0%), intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 (24.0%).
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Childhood vaccination hesitancy in Saudi Arabia: are we still facing a problem?
Abdulrahman A. Bin Alamir
Saudi Medical Journal Jun 2024, 45 (6) 551-559; DOI: 10.15537/smj.2024.45.6.20240116

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Childhood vaccination hesitancy in Saudi Arabia: are we still facing a problem?
Abdulrahman A. Bin Alamir
Saudi Medical Journal Jun 2024, 45 (6) 551-559; DOI: 10.15537/smj.2024.45.6.20240116
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Keywords

  • vaccine hesitancy
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  • Saudi Arabia

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