FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH VACCINE ACCEPTANCE AND RECOMMENDATION AMONG DENTAL STUDENTS AND FACULTY PREVIOUSLY INFECTED WITH COVID-19; A STUDY FROM SAUDI ARABIA

Osama Abu-Hammad; Shaden Abu-Hammad; Safa Jambi; Nebras Althagafi; Rawah Eshky; Rahaf Saeed Aljohani; Rahaf Ayeq; Layan Ghazi; Heba Alsubhi; Abdalla Abu-Hammad; Malak Abu-Hammad; Najla Dar-Odeh

doi:10.37268/mjphm/vol.22/no.3/art.1653

Osama Abu-Hammad College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawara 43353, Saudi Arabia
Shaden Abu-Hammad Comprehensive Amman Healthcare center, Amman, 11192, Jordan
Safa Jambi College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawara 43353, Saudi Arabia
Nebras Althagafi College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawara 43353, Saudi Arabia
Rawah Eshky College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawara 43353, Saudi Arabia
Rahaf Saeed Aljohani College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawara 43353, Saudi Arabia
Rahaf Ayeq College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawara 43353, Saudi Arabia.
Layan Ghazi College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawara 43353, Saudi Arabia
Heba Alsubhi College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawara 43353, Saudi Arabia
Abdalla Abu-Hammad School of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Malak Abu-Hammad School of Medicine, Hashemite University, Amman, 13133, Jordan
Najla Dar-Odeh College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawara 43353, Saudi Arabia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37268/mjphm/vol.22/no.3/art.1653

Keywords: COVID-19, Dental staff, Vaccine Hesitancy, Awareness

Abstract

This study aims to explore vaccine acceptance and recommendation behaviors among clinical dental students and their faculty who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. The study was conducted among previously infected dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) in an academic setting to evaluate their willingness to accept vaccines and recommend them to family and patients. Logistic regression was conducted to determine significant variables associated with vaccine attitudes. Among 316 personnel 62 indicated previous infection (19.6%). Personnel who were willing to take the vaccine, or recommend it to patients, or to family were: 67.7%, 87.1%, and 85.5% respectively. Vaccine acceptance was significantly associated with vaccine awareness and number of long-term COVID-19 complications (P=.003, .033 respectively). Vaccine recommendation to family, and patients was significantly associated with vaccine awareness only (P=.005, .006 respectively). It is concluded that some previously infected academic dental personnel are unwilling to accept COVID-19 vaccines or recommend them to others. This was mainly due to lack of vaccine awareness. Efforts directed at increasing COVID-19 vaccine awareness are warranted by dental schools in collaboration with Ministry of Health authorities. It is also necessary to closely monitor, and provide support to personnel affected by long COVID

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