Predicting intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 in older Syrian refugees in Lebanon: findings from a multi-wave study
This study developed and validated a model of intention to refuse vaccination against COVID-19.
Abstract
Despite global efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccine coverage, acceptance among refugees in the Arab region remains low. This study developed and validated a model of intention to refuse vaccination against COVID-19 in older Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Predictors of intention to refuse the vaccine include age, education, living outside informal tented settlements, sex, perceiving COVID-19 as not a serious infection and vaccines as not safe or effective, and using social media as a source of information on COVID-19. The primary reasons for vaccine refusal were: preference to follow preventive measures, concerns that the vaccine is too new, and belief that the vaccine is not essential.
This study highlights the need for targeted interventions to enhance vaccine acceptance and uptake among older Syrian refugees, and address barriers to vaccine registration in Lebanon. The findings can inform humanitarian programming and public health campaigns in Lebanon and guide resource allocation and deployment planning. Findings can also inform future research to better understand the predictors of vaccine refusal.
This research was supported by the Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) Programme.
Citation
Noura Salibi, Sawsan Abdulrahim, Maria El Haddad, Berthe Abi Zeid, Marwan F. Alawieh, Zeinab Ramadan, Hala Ghattas, Stephen J. McCall. ‘Predicting intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 in older Syrian refugees in Lebanon: findings from a multi-wave study’. medRxiv 2022.07.23.22277948
“This article is a preprint and has not been peer-reviewed. It reports new medical research that has yet to be evaluated and so should not be used to guide clinical practice”.