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COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among the Public in Kuwait: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Author

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  • Jumana Alibrahim

    (Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Safat, P.O. Box 24923, Kuwait City 13110, Kuwait)

  • Abdelmoneim Awad

    (Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Safat, P.O. Box 24923, Kuwait City 13110, Kuwait)

Abstract

Vaccine hesitancy (uncertainty or unwillingness to receive vaccinations) is a major barrier to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in the long term. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the public in Kuwait, to understand their attitudes towards vaccines in general, and to identify predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 4147 adults aged ≥ 18 years. The snowball sampling strategy was used for data collection through social media and e-mails. A total of 3061 (73.8%) respondents indicated that they were vaccinated or intending to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 infection, while 1086 (26.2%) expressed their vaccine hesitancy. The most common reasons for vaccine hesitancy were the concerns about the vaccine’s possible side effects, its rushed development, and its efficacy in preventing the infection. Over half (57.2%) of respondents expressed intermediate to high levels of negative attitude towards vaccines in general. On the multivariable logistic regression analysis, the findings revealed that vaccine hesitancy was significantly more prevalent among respondents aged 30–64 years; females; married or divorced; residents of Hawalli, Al-Farwaniyah, Al-Jahra, and Mubarak Al-Kabeer; had intermediate monthly average income; non-smokers; not feeling worried about catching the infection; do not know whether any of their family members have been infected or died because of COVID-19 infection; do not have a large extent of confidence in the Kuwait health system’s ability to handle the pandemic; did not receive influenza vaccine during the last year; refused or elected to forego a doctor-recommended vaccine; did not receive adequate information from the public health authorities/healthcare providers about the COVID-19 vaccines; none of their first-degree family members received or were intending to receive the vaccine; and expressed intermediate to high levels of negative attitudes towards vaccines in general. The present findings provide a steer as to the groups that most need to be reached to increase the rates of vaccine uptake.

Suggested Citation

  • Jumana Alibrahim & Abdelmoneim Awad, 2021. "COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among the Public in Kuwait: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-21, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8836-:d:619303
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jamie Murphy & Frédérique Vallières & Richard P. Bentall & Mark Shevlin & Orla McBride & Todd K. Hartman & Ryan McKay & Kate Bennett & Liam Mason & Jilly Gibson-Miller & Liat Levita & Anton P. Martine, 2021. "Psychological characteristics associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance in Ireland and the United Kingdom," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Yulan Lin & Zhijian Hu & Qinjian Zhao & Haridah Alias & Mahmoud Danaee & Li Ping Wong, 2020. "Understanding COVID-19 vaccine demand and hesitancy: A nationwide online survey in China," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(12), pages 1-22, December.
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    1. Daphne Bussink-Voorend & Jeannine L. A. Hautvast & Lisa Vandeberg & Olga Visser & Marlies E. J. L. Hulscher, 2022. "A systematic literature review to clarify the concept of vaccine hesitancy," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(12), pages 1634-1648, December.
    2. McKinley, Christopher J. & Limbu, Yam, 2024. "Promoter or barrier? Assessing how social media predicts Covid-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy: A systematic review of primary series and booster vaccine investigations," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).

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