Factors affecting public knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines and the influence of knowledge on their acceptance to get vaccinated

Abu Hammour, Khawla; Abu Farha, Rana; Manaseer, Qusai; Al-Manaseer, Bayan

Objectives An analysis was conducted to assess the factors affecting public knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines and the influence of knowledge on their acceptance to get vaccinated. Study design The study design of this study is a cross-sectional survey. Methods An online self-administered questionnaire was instrumentalized to assess the factors affecting public Jordanian knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines and their influence on their acceptance to get vaccinated. Multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to find the variables that affect participants’ knowledge score about COVID-19 vaccines. Mann-Whitney U test was used to evaluate the differences in knowledge scores between different groups. A P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Only 45.9% of participants reported being willing to take the vaccine, and only 38.5% (n= 180) have registered on the Ministry of Health platform to get the vaccine. Moreover, very few of them 26 (5.6%) have received the vaccine. participants showed inadequate knowledge with a median knowledge score of 4 out of 8 (IQR= 4). Linear regression analysis showed that participants older than 45 years, those with bachelor or graduate degrees, and those with medical-related degrees showed higher knowledge scores about COVID-19 vaccines compared to others (P<0.001). Subjects who were willing to take the vaccine, who registered to take the vaccine, and who got vaccinated showed higher knowledge scores than others (P<0.001 for all). Conclusions In this cross-sectional analysis an urgent education is needed to improve the public knowledge and awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine to reduce the adverse impact of lack of knowledge on decision-making for COVID-19 vaccination.