Prevalence, Knowledge and Potential Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptability Among University Students in the United Arab Emirates: Findings and Implications

Abstract

Moyad Shahwan,1,2 Abdulhaq Suliman,2,3 Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun,4,9 Sahib Alkhoujah,1 Sabaa Saleh Al-hemyari,5,9 Saleh Karamah AL-Tamimi,6 Brian Godman,2,7– 9 Ramzi A Mothana10 1College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; 2Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; 3College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; 4Health and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 5Pharmacy Department, Emirates Health Services, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 6Faculty of Pharmacy, Aden University, Aden, Yemen; 7Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK; 8Division of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa; 9School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia; 10Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Ammar Abdulrahman JairounHealth and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, 67, United Arab EmiratesTel [phone]Email [email protected] ShahwanDepartment of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, 346, United Arab Emirates - Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, 346, United Arab Emirates Tel [phone]Email [email protected]: To evaluate the prevalence, knowledge, attitude and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines and related factors among university students in the United Arab Emirates.Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study undertaken among a convenient sample of medical and non-medical colleges of Ajman University using a self-administrated questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic data as well as assessing knowledge of COVID-19, attitudes and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines.Results: A total of 467 students participated in the study and completed the questionnaire. A total of 181 (38.8%) participants reported that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 virus, principally with the Sinopharm vaccine (84%). Vaccination against the COVID-19 virus was less prevalent among Arabic nationalities compared to other nationalities, but more prevalent among students from health science colleges compared to those from non-health science colleges. The acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccine among study participants was 56.3%, exacerbated by worries regarding unforeseen problems (65.5%, 306), general mistrust (47.3%, 221) and unforeseen impacts (35.1%, 164). The average knowledge score was 60.1%, with 142 (30.4%) having poor knowledge, 127 (27.2%) acceptable knowledge and 198 (42.4%) good knowledge. There were common misconceptions about symptoms including nausea and diarrhoea, as well as the route of transmission, with half believing antibiotics are effective treatment.Conclusion: There was variable knowledge of COVID-19 among students. Misconceptions need addressing going forward. To enhance COVID-19 vaccination uptake in the country and worldwide, health education targeting diverse sociodemographic categories should be prioritized.Keywords: acceptance, knowledge, vaccine, COVID-19, university student, concerns, Ajman University

Keywords

• acceptance
• knowledge
• vaccine
• covid-19
• university student
• concerns
• ajman university.