Parental Awareness, Acceptance, and Hesitancy about Child Vaccination in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the current state of vaccination coverage and the extent of vaccine hesitancy in Saudi Arabia. Methods: To locate research that met the inclusion criteria, a thorough computerized search of relevant databases was carried out. A comprehensive search was carried out on PubMed, SCOPUS, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to locate relevant material. Results: Our data included eleven trials with 6947 participants and 2781 (40%) were males. The prevalence of hesitancy among Saudi populations towards vaccination ranged from 6.5% to the COVID-19 vaccine and 80% to the HPV vaccine, with a total prevalence of 2888 (41.6%). Various factors reduce hesitation, including free vaccinations, media campaigns, reading about the vaccine, leaders receiving it, relatives receiving it, work-mandated vaccinations, religion, trust in medical procedures, going back to regular life, and removing protective measures. We emphasize the necessity of focused educational initiatives to encourage favorable attitudes and conceptions of the vaccine and raise vaccination rates. Conclusion: We recorded a high hesitancy prevalence towards vaccination among the Saudi population. While the nation's immunization programs have shown remarkable effectiveness, focused efforts are required to address the particular causes of vaccine reluctance. Saudi Arabia can guarantee the long-term effectiveness of its public health programs and keep its population safe from diseases that can be prevented by vaccination by comprehending and addressing these variables.