Perceived benefits, information, vaccination history, and conspiracy beliefs as significant determinants of RSV vaccine acceptance among Arab seniors.

Abstract

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) poses a significant respiratory health risk to senior citizens, contributing substantially to hospitalizations and mortality. With the recent approval of three RSV vaccines for the elderly, it is critical to understand the factors that can shape the RSV vaccination attitudes to inform public health strategies that can enhance uptake among this vulnerable population.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the potential factors that could influence the attitudes toward RSV vaccination among senior citizens in Arab countries.

Design: A multinational cross-sectional study, adhering to STROBE guidelines, was conducted using a survey instrument previously validated through exploratory factor analysis to assess attitudes toward the newly approved RSV vaccine.

Methods: A self-administered online survey was distributed conveniently among senior citizens mainly across five Arab countries. The survey collected data on demographics, vaccination history, and key constructs related to RSV vaccine attitude, including "Fear," "Information," "Accessibility," "Benefits," and "Conspiracy."

Results: A total of 483 participants were included in the study, with the majority from five Arab countries: Jordan (n = 239, 49.5%), Kuwait (n = 74, 15.3%), Egypt (n = 68, 14.1%), Saudi Arabia (n = 51, 10.6%), and the UAE (n = 23, 4.8%), alongside participants from other Arab nations (n = 28, 5.8%). Among the respondents, 51.1% (n = 247) expressed acceptance of the RSV vaccine, 22.4% (n = 108) were hesitant, and 26.5% (n = 128) exhibited refusal. Multivariate analysis identified perceived benefits (β = 0.484, p < 0.001), information needs (β = 0.229, p < 0.001), and previous vaccination history (β = 0.087, p = 0.016) as significant positive predictors of vaccine acceptance. Conversely, stronger conspiracy beliefs (β = -0.083, p = 0.035) were associated with vaccine resistance. Fear and accessibility were not significant predictors of vaccine attitudes.

Conclusion: The findings showed that perceived benefits, access to reliable information, previous vaccination history, and conspiracy beliefs are essential to promote RSV vaccine acceptance among Arab seniors. These factors are recommended to improve RSV vaccine uptake in this vulnerable population.