Acceptance to take COVID-19 vaccine and its relation to COVID-19 infection

Abstract

One of the biggest global health threats is vaccine hesitancy and it remains a global issue. The speed at which vaccines are developed and media misinformation contribute to vaccine reluctance. This study examined the relationship between vaccine acceptance and COVID-19 infection. A cross-sectional study was used with a sample of 1388 subjects including students and academic staff. Data were collected using the self-administered COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Behavior questionnaire, which has nine dimensions and 42 items and asks about COVID-19 infection frequency and timing. The mean COVID-19 vaccine behavior scores of hesitant subjects were low. Low trust in COVID-19 vaccines (25.4%) was the main reason for hesitancy. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is positively correlated with increased infection rates (P≤0.001). Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine can reduce infection rates, protect vulnerable populations, and aid public health efforts to control the virus.