Public Attitudes Toward Pediatric Routine Immunization During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Society.

Abstract

BackgroundRoutine vaccines are essential for the well-being of children. Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, some restrictions have been applied in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), causing parental concern about visiting healthcare facilities.ObjectivesTo examine the attitudes and factors that influence parents’ decisions regarding their children's vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 1,704 caregivers from KSA participated. An implemented Arabic questionnaire directed to the caregivers of children at the age of routine immunizations was filled. It included questions on parent demographics, child data, the decision regarding the vaccines, cause-related questions, and the preferred means to receive the vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsA total of 1,360 participants were included. The majority were from the middle region of KSA. Thirty-nine point five percent (39.5%) of participants chose not to administer the scheduled vaccines to their children, and the main reason was the fear of COVID-19 infection. The main sources of information that encouraged administering the vaccines were the advice of physicians, Saudi Ministry of Health (SMOH) services, 937, and the Sehha application. The majority of the participants chose home immunization visits as the preferred means of vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic (46.8%). The study showed that approximately 60% of the respondents believed that routine childhood immunizations had no role in spreading the COVID-19 infection, and 59% believed that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, routine childhood vaccines have to be administrated on time.ConclusionThe study indicated the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the compliance of Saudi society toward routine pediatric immunization.