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Misconceptions Related to COVID 19 Vaccines Among the Jordanian Population: Myth and Public Health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2022

Alaa M. Hammad Open the ORCID record for Alaa M. Hammad [Opens in a new window] ,
Walid Al-Qerem ,
Alaa Abu Zaid ,
Sawsan I. Khdair  and
F. Scott Hall
Alaa M. Hammad*
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Walid Al-Qerem
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Alaa Abu Zaid
Affiliation:
Applied Science Department, Al-Balqa Applied University, Aqaba, Jordan
Sawsan I. Khdair
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
F. Scott Hall
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA
*
Corresponding author: Alaa M. Hammad, Email: alaa.hammad@zuj.edu.jo.
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Abstract

Objective:

This study assesses misconceptions about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine and the factors associated with misconception among Jordanians.

Methods:

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted. The survey was formulated on Google Forms, and was hosted on an online platform. These questions were created based on extensive review of online information about the vaccines. Frequencies and percentages (%) were used for categorical variables, while means and standard deviations (SDs) were used for continuous variables. Stepwise binary logistic regression was conducted to evaluate variables associated with participant’s misconception questions.

Results:

Of 1195 survey respondents who participated in the study, 41.3% had received the COVID-19 vaccine. The mean misconception score was (60.0 ± 19.1). The statement with the highest mean was “The vaccine hasn’t been tested on enough people” (3.6 ± 1.0). The statement with the lowest mean was “The COVID-19 vaccine includes a microchip to control us” (2.2 ± 1.1) in the conspiracy theory portion. Females, 18- to 29-age group, higher educational level, living in a city, the participants who took lectures about the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccinated participants had higher odds of being in the low misconception level group.

Conclusion:

Targeted campaigns and vaccine safety information should be part of a broader health education campaign to alleviate vaccination safety concerns.

Keywords

COVID-19vaccinevaccine hesitancyJordaneffectiveness
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 17 , 2023 , e207
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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