Recommended Citation
Kheil MH, Jain D, Jomaa J, Askar B, Alcodray Y, Wahbi S, Brikho S, Kadouh A, Harajli D, Jawad ZN, Fehmi Z, Elhage M, Tawil T, Fehmi O, Alzouhayli SJ, Ujayli D, Suleiman N, Kazziha O, Saleh R, Abada E, Shallal A, Kim S, Kumar VA, Zervos M, Cote ML, and Ali-Fehmi R. COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Arab Americans. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10(4).
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-14-2022
Publication Title
Vaccines (Basel)
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have a significant impact on reducing morbidity and mortality from infection. However, vaccine hesitancy remains an obstacle in combating the pandemic. The Arab American (AA) population is understudied; thus, we aimed to explore COVID-19 attitudes within this community.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. An anonymous online survey was distributed to members of different AA associations and to the community through the snowball method.
Results: A total of 1746 participants completed the survey. A total of 92% of respondents reported having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 73% reported willingness to receive a booster, and 72% plan to give their children the vaccine. On multivariate analysis, respondents were more likely to be vaccine-hesitant if they were hesitant about receiving any vaccine in general. They were less likely to be vaccine-hesitant if they were immigrants, over the age of 40, up to date on their general vaccination and if they believed that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in preventing an infection. The belief that all vaccines are effective at preventing diseases was also associated with lower hesitancy.
Conclusions: This sample of AAs have higher vaccination rates and are more willing to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 when compared to the rest of the population. However, a reemergence of hesitancy might be arising towards the boosters.
PubMed ID
35455359
Volume
10
Issue
4
