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Low COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Is Correlated with Conspiracy Beliefs among University Students in Jordan

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  • Malik Sallam

    (Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
    Department of Clinical Laboratories and Forensic Medicine, Jordan University Hospital, Amman 11942, Jordan
    Department of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Malmö, Sweden)

  • Deema Dababseh

    (Department of Dentistry, Jordan University Hospital, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Huda Eid

    (School of Dentistry, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Hanan Hasan

    (Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Duaa Taim

    (School of Dentistry, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Kholoud Al-Mahzoum

    (School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Ayat Al-Haidar

    (School of Dentistry, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Alaa Yaseen

    (Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Science, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Nidaa A. Ababneh

    (Cell Therapy Center (CTC), The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Areej Assaf

    (Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Faris G. Bakri

    (Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
    Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Center, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Suzan Matar

    (Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Science, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Azmi Mahafzah

    (Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
    Department of Clinical Laboratories and Forensic Medicine, Jordan University Hospital, Amman 11942, Jordan)

Abstract

Vaccination to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged as a promising measure to overcome the negative consequences of the pandemic. Since university students could be considered a knowledgeable group, this study aimed to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among this group in Jordan. Additionally, we aimed to examine the association between vaccine conspiracy beliefs and vaccine hesitancy. We used an online survey conducted in January 2021 with a chain-referral sampling approach. Conspiracy beliefs were evaluated using the validated Vaccine Conspiracy Belief Scale (VCBS), with higher scores implying embrace of conspiracies. A total of 1106 respondents completed the survey with female predominance ( n = 802, 72.5%). The intention to get COVID-19 vaccines was low: 34.9% (yes) compared to 39.6% (no) and 25.5% (maybe). Higher rates of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance were seen among males (42.1%) and students at Health Schools (43.5%). A Low rate of influenza vaccine acceptance was seen as well (28.8%), in addition to 18.6% of respondents being anti-vaccination altogether. A significantly higher VCBS score was correlated with reluctance to get the vaccine ( p < 0.001). Dependence on social media platforms was significantly associated with lower intention to get COVID-19 vaccines (19.8%) compared to dependence on medical doctors, scientists, and scientific journals (47.2%, p < 0.001). The results of this study showed the high prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its association with conspiracy beliefs among university students in Jordan. The implementation of targeted actions to increase the awareness of such a group is highly recommended. This includes educational programs to dismantle vaccine conspiracy beliefs and awareness campaigns to build recognition of the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.

Suggested Citation

  • Malik Sallam & Deema Dababseh & Huda Eid & Hanan Hasan & Duaa Taim & Kholoud Al-Mahzoum & Ayat Al-Haidar & Alaa Yaseen & Nidaa A. Ababneh & Areej Assaf & Faris G. Bakri & Suzan Matar & Azmi Mahafzah, 2021. "Low COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Is Correlated with Conspiracy Beliefs among University Students in Jordan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2407-:d:508492
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Malik Sallam & Deema Dababseh & Alaa’ Yaseen & Ayat Al-Haidar & Nidaa A. Ababneh & Faris G. Bakri & Azmi Mahafzah, 2020. "Conspiracy Beliefs Are Associated with Lower Knowledge and Higher Anxiety Levels Regarding COVID-19 among Students at the University of Jordan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Andrew T. Levin & William P. Hanage & Nana Owusu-Boaitey & Kensington B. Cochran & Seamus P. Walsh & Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, 2020. "Assessing the Age Specificity of Infection Fatality Rates for COVID-19: Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, & Public Policy Implications," NBER Working Papers 27597, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    4. Heidi J. Larson, 2018. "The biggest pandemic risk? Viral misinformation," Nature, Nature, vol. 562(7727), pages 309-309, October.
    5. Stephanie J. Alley & Robert Stanton & Matthew Browne & Quyen G. To & Saman Khalesi & Susan L. Williams & Tanya L. Thwaite & Andrew S. Fenning & Corneel Vandelanotte, 2021. "As the Pandemic Progresses, How Does Willingness to Vaccinate against COVID-19 Evolve?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
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    Cited by:

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    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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