The COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance and Perceived Risk: A Survey in Northwestern Iran

Background. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still a global leading public health issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Vaccine hesitancy can decelerate the effect of mass vaccination programs. This study aimed to assess the determinants of COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and its relationship with the perceived risk of COVID-19 among the Iranian population at the beginning of the vaccination program.
Methods. In this cross-sectional survey conducted in June 2021 in Tabriz, Iran, 500 subjects aged 18-64 years were investigated. The collected data included the demographic variables, participants' previous COVID-19 infection, history of the COVID-19 infection and mortality in the participant’s family members, perceived risk of COVID-19, and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 16. Independent t-test and logistic regression were also performed.
Results. The acceptance, doubt, and rejection of COVID-19 vaccine were reported by 232 (46.4%), 129 (25.8%), and 139 (27.8%) cases, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the age, education level, profession, and perceived risk of COVID-19 were significantly associated with the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Conclusion. The acceptance rate of the COVID-19 vaccine was not optimal among the studied population at the beginning of vaccination program, and about half of the participants reported the vaccine acceptance. People with low education, low perceived risk level for COVID-19, and younger people may have been considered a high-risk group for doubt or rejection of the COVID-19 vaccine.