Yasmin, M.; Tfaily, M.A.; Wazzi Mkahal, R.; Obeid, R.; Emery, R.P.; Hassouna, H.; Bhugra, M.; Bonomo, R.A.; Kanafani, Z.A. Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Communities in the United States and Lebanon. Microorganisms2024, 12, 1200.
Yasmin, M.; Tfaily, M.A.; Wazzi Mkahal, R.; Obeid, R.; Emery, R.P.; Hassouna, H.; Bhugra, M.; Bonomo, R.A.; Kanafani, Z.A. Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Communities in the United States and Lebanon. Microorganisms 2024, 12, 1200.
Yasmin, M.; Tfaily, M.A.; Wazzi Mkahal, R.; Obeid, R.; Emery, R.P.; Hassouna, H.; Bhugra, M.; Bonomo, R.A.; Kanafani, Z.A. Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Communities in the United States and Lebanon. Microorganisms2024, 12, 1200.
Yasmin, M.; Tfaily, M.A.; Wazzi Mkahal, R.; Obeid, R.; Emery, R.P.; Hassouna, H.; Bhugra, M.; Bonomo, R.A.; Kanafani, Z.A. Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Communities in the United States and Lebanon. Microorganisms 2024, 12, 1200.
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the significance of vaccine hesitancy in shaping vaccination outcomes. Understanding the factors underpinning COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy is crucial for tailoring effective vaccination strategies. This cross-sectional study, conducted in three communities across the United States and Lebanon, employed surveys to assess respondents' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding COVID-19 infection and vaccination. Among the 7,196 participants, comprising 6,775 from the US and 422 from Lebanon, vaccine hesitancy rates were comparable at 12.2% and 12.8%, respectively. Notably, a substantial proportion of respondents harbored misconceptions, such as attributing the potential to alter DNA (86.4%) or track individuals (92.8%) to COVID-19 vaccines, and believing in the virus's artificial origins (81%). Primary determinants of hesitancy included perceptions that the vaccine poses greater risk than the infection itself (aOR = 8.7 and 9.4, respectively) and negative recommendations from healthcare providers (aOR = 6.5 and 5.4, respectively). Conversely, positive endorsements from healthcare providers were associated with reduced hesitancy (aOR = 0.02 and 0.4, respectively). Targeting healthcare providers to dispel misinformation and elucidate COVID-19 vaccine risks holds promise for enhancing vaccination uptake.
Medicine and Pharmacology, Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases
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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
