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COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in Iran, a nationwide survey on factors associated with the willingness toward getting vaccinated
Mehrdad Askarian1, Linda Y Fu2, Mohammad Hossein Taghrir3, Roham Borazjani4, Zahra Shayan5, Ehsan Taherifard6, Erfan Taherifard6, Hossein Akbarialiabad3, Yves Longtin7, Ardalan Askarian8, Shahin Kavousi3
1 Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine; Health Behavior Science Research Center, Shiraz, Iran
2 General and Community Pediatrics, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
3 Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Shiraz, Iran
4 Trauma Research Center, Shahid Rajaee (Emtiaz) Trauma Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
5 Trauma Research Center, Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Shiraz, Iran
6 Medical Student, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Shiraz, Iran
7 Department of Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
8 Student, College of Arts & Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
Correspondence Address:
Roham Borazjani
Trauma Research Center, Shahid Rajaee (Emtiaz) Trauma Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz
Iran
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_261_21
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Background: In the name of extensive vaccine uptake, understanding the public's attitude, perception, and intent toward COVID-19 vaccination is a significant challenge for public health officials. Methods: A cross-sectional survey via an online questionnaire rooted in the Health Belief Model and Integrated Behavioral Model was conducted to evaluate COVID-19 vaccination intent and its associated factors. Factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression were operated to be satisfactory. Results: Among the 4,933 respondents, 24.7% were health care workers, and 64.2% intended to accept COVID-19 vaccination. The adjusted odds (aOR) of COVID-19 vaccination intent was higher for individuals with greater exposure to social norms supportive of COVID-19 vaccination (aOR = 3.07, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 2.71, 3.47) and higher perceived benefits of COVID-19 vaccination (aOR = 2.9, 95% CI = 2.49, 3.38). The adjusted odds of vaccination intent were lower for individuals with greater COVID-19 vaccine safety concerns (aOR = 0.28, 95%CI = 0.25, 0.31). Lower vaccination intent was also associated with increasing age ((aOR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.98, 0.999), female sex (aOR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.65, 0.88), and working in the health care field (aOR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.63, 0.9). Conclusions: The odds of COVID-19 vaccination intent were higher three or more times among those with a greater belief in vaccine effectiveness, lower concerns about vaccine safety, and greater exposure to cues to vaccinate, including from doctors. This last finding is concerning as vaccine acceptance was surprisingly lower among health care workers compared to others. The remarkable results of factor analysis and reliability of the questionnaire may encourage local health authorities to apply it to their regional population.
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