Abstract

Background: On the basis of epidemiologic data and worldwide experiences on influenza vaccination, both seasonal and H1N1 vaccinations are recommended for anyone 6 months of age or older who is at risk of becoming ill or of transmitting the viruses to others. Overall, the rates and seriousness of a possible complication of influenza vaccination are much smaller than the risk of serious complications and mortality from influenza infection.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of seasonal flu immunization status as well as factors associated with its acceptance among adult Saudi patients visiting the general clinic at al-Sharaee Primary Health Care Center in Makkah.

Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytic study conducted among 200 adult Saudi patients visiting the general clinic at al-Sharaee Primary Health Care Center in Makkah in June 2013. Data were collected from participants themselves in the presence of the researcher using a predesigned questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of dependent variable (seasonal flu immunization status) and independent variables (age, gender, educational level, marital status, job status, home/living, barriers hindering factors (fear of injection, side effects, being busy, fear of infection, desire to avoid medication, belief the vaccine was not effective, safety issue, inadequate policies, and because there was no obligation from Ministry of Health).

Results: A total of 200 adult Saudi patients (100 men and 100 women) visiting the general clinic at al-Sharaee Primary Health Care Center in Makkah were recruited to explore their seasonal flu immunization status. Overall, the age of the participants ranged between 18 and 66 with a mean of 33.96±10.88 years. Only 18.5% of the participants had a history of receiving seasonal influenza vaccine. The majority of the participants claimed that they were at risk of getting flu infection (72.5%). Main sources of information were Ministry of Health (54.0%) and mass media (53.0%). Of the participants, 23% men and 14% women gave information about the history of seasonal flu vaccination with no statistically significant difference. Regarding reasons for seasonal flu vaccine refusal, concern about the vaccine’s side effects was the most reported response from both genders (76.6% men and 57.0%women), and overall it was 66.3%. Believing that the vaccine is not safe was the second reported response from both genders (45.5% men and 33.7% of women), and overall it was 39.3%. The difference between men and women was statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, seasonal flu vaccination rate was low although majority of participants claimed that they were at risk of flu infection. Most of the participants believed that the vaccine was not safe. However, it was determined that reasons to refuse were mostly the vaccine’s side effects and not believing in the vaccine’s protectiveness.

Key words: Seasonal, flu, vaccine, acceptance, Saudi Arabia