THE RATE OF SAUDI SOCIETY’S ACCEPTANCE OF THE COVID 19 VACCINATIONS: MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS

The World Health Organisation lists vaccination hesitancy as the 10th greatest health threat worldwide. Vaccination hesitancy is a phenomenon ranging from an individual's indifference to vehement opposition to any vaccination, and this study explores the risk profiles of a sample of the Saudi population in early 2021 contemplating their COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease of 2019) vaccination decisions. In May 2021, Saudi government policy mandated vaccination for individuals to engage in many public activities, which may change the population's risk profile. This research identified vaccination acceptance factors for the COVID-19 phenomenon in early 2021 whilst vaccines were new and untried on populations. Using an internally valid measure supported by explanatory factor analysis, it was found that a high proportion of the Saudi population (88%) intended to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Significant factors included education, chronic disease, and peer influences. The results could assist the Ministry of Health in vaccine logistics and assist with targeting at-risk groups to encourage further vaccination against the coronavirus.