Peer-reviewed article
Vaccine hesitancy among Saudi parents of children in Abha City, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.
Aseeri AM, AlZailaie AK, Abdullah NS, Alzzaqani AH, Albqami SA ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study surveyed 382 Saudi parents in Abha City to understand vaccine hesitancy toward childhood immunization. Although most parents were aware of the national vaccination schedule and high vaccine confidence was reported, nearly half had concerns about vaccine side effects and over one-third had delayed or refused a vaccine for their child. Only 5.2% of parents demonstrated high vaccine hesitancy, but the researchers identified that older parents (over 40 years) and female parents were more likely to be hesitant.
Key points
- 96.9% of parents reported familiarity with the national immunization schedule
- 46.1% of participants reported concerns regarding vaccine side effects
- 35.6% had previously delayed or refused a compulsory vaccine for their child
- Only 5.2% of participants demonstrated high vaccine hesitancy
- Parents older than 40 years and female participants were independently associated with higher vaccine hesitancy
Limitations
This cross-sectional study describes associations at one point in time in one city and cannot establish causation. The findings may not be generalizable to other regions of Saudi Arabia or other populations with different socioeconomic or cultural contexts.
Abstract
Background Vaccine hesitancy remains an important global public health concern despite the success of childhood immunization programs. Parental concerns regarding vaccine safety, side effects, and misinformation may negatively influence vaccine uptake and contribute to delayed or refused childhood vaccination. This study aimed to assess vaccine hesitancy among Saudi parents in Abha City and identify factors associated with hesitant attitudes toward compulsory childhood vaccination. Methods A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 382 Saudi parents of children younger than 12 years in Abha City, Saudi Arabia, between 1 January and 30 April 2025. Data were collected using a structured Arabic questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, vaccine knowledge, attitudes, trust, and vaccination behaviors. A composite vaccine hesitancy score was calculated, and participants with scores ≥11 were classified as having high vaccine hesitancy. Firth penalized logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with high vaccine hesitancy. Data were analyzed using R statistical software version 4.4.3. Results Most participants demonstrated good awareness regarding compulsory childhood vaccination, with 96.9% reporting familiarity with the national immunization schedule. Although overall vaccine confidence was high, 46.1% of participants reported concerns regarding vaccine side effects, and 35.6% had previously delayed or refused a compulsory vaccine for their child. Overall, 5.2% of participants demonstrated high vaccine hesitancy. Firth penalized logistic regression analysis showed that parents older than 40 years (adjusted OR = 6.62, 95% CI: 1.65-38.89, p = 0.006) and female participants (adjusted OR = 3.41, 95% CI: 1.29-9.98, p = 0.013) were independently associated with high vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion Although vaccine hesitancy was relatively low among Saudi parents in Abha City, concerns regarding vaccine safety and side effects remain common. Targeted educational interventions, effective healthcare communication, and strategies addressing vaccine misinformation are essential to maintain public confidence in childhood immunization programs.