Attitude and knowledge towards the effectiveness of nucleic acid-based vaccines among healthcare workers and medical students in the Jordanian population

Abstract

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, catastrophic mortality and morbidity rates and unknown long-term ramifications were caused, leading to focused efforts on implementing effective vaccination. Nucleic acid-based vaccines (NBVs), an emergent advance in vaccine development, presented high efficacy rates but controversy regarding this approach soon spread. This study assesses healthcare workers (HCWs) knowledge and attitude towards NBVs’ effectiveness. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Jordan from November 2020 to January 2021 through a web-based questionnaire. 320 participants were split into educated and uneducated groups, with the former being exposed to educational material on NBVs before survey completion. The educated group expressed increased concern towards NBVs’ side effects. Specifically, the risk of developing cancer due to genetic modification(40.8%), fever(69.4%), skin rash(58.0%), and amyloid deposition(40.8%) showed a significant difference. The educated group preferred RNA-based NBVs over DNA-based ones(43.9%), had double the response rate, provided more scientifically accurate answers, and showed a more positive attitude towards the ability of NBVs to induce cellular immunity (57.3%) and prevent chronic forms of COVID-19(57.3%) (p < 0.05). Because HCWs are the most integral players in shaping public opinion about NBVs, thorough educational material on NBVs needs to be integrated within the curricula of health-related programs to bridge the gap present. This could prove vital in ensuring the success of the current and future vaccination campaigns.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• nucleic acid vaccine
• healthcare workers
• vaccination
• effectiveness