Awareness and Acceptance for COVID-19 Booster Dose Vaccination among Residents of Saudi Arabia: Findings of a Cross-Sectional Study

Background: In the global effort to combat SARS CoV2 infection, adoption of the vaccination has been an essential component. The goal of this research was to determine the quality of web-based information gathered during COVID-19 and participants' awareness and acceptance for the booster dose for COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out to gauge interest in and willingness for a booster dose, as well as the satisfaction with the availability and accuracy of Internet resources. This study included 631 people from the cities of Riyadh, Al Majma'ah, Al Ghat, and Zulfi in the Riyadh Area. Chi-square and Fischer's exact tests, with a 95% confidence interval, and a threshold of p < 0.05, were used to analyze the significance of associations between variables. Results: Out of 631 respondents, 347 people who reported willingness to receive the immunization were women (319, 91.9%), with only 28 (8.1%) being men. There was a statistically significant correlation between individuals who worried about booster dosage adverse effects and those who did not receive the immunization. Knowledge of the efficacy of the vaccine, confidence in the capacity of the vaccine to avert problems, and willingness to receive a third dosage were all shown to be substantially correlated (p < 0.001). Attitude and behavior ratings were substantially correlated with prior COVID-19 immunization status (p < 0.005). Conclusions: There was a significant correlation between vaccination knowledge, confidence in the capacity of the vaccine to prevent problems, and willingness to receive a third dose. Therefore, our research can help policymakers develop more precise and scientific roll-out strategies for the COVID-19 booster vaccination.

Automated summary

This study aimed to assess the quality of web-based information collected during COVID-19 and the awareness and acceptance of the booster dose for COVID-19. A cross-sectional study involving 631 participants from Riyadh, Al Majma'ah, Al Ghat, and Zulfi found a significant correlation between vaccination knowledge, confidence in the vaccine's capacity, and willingness to receive a third dose among those who were willing to be vaccinated.