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Study Reveals Vaccine Hesitancy and Acceptance Patterns for RSV
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Key Takeaways
- RSV poses a significant threat to older adults, with varying vaccine acceptance in Arab countries, necessitating targeted interventions.
- Perceived benefits, accurate information, and prior vaccination history increase RSV vaccine acceptance among seniors.
RSV vaccine acceptance among older adults is significantly influenced by perceived benefits.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) poses a significant threat to older adults, and while new vaccines offer protection, understanding the factors influencing vaccine acceptance among seniors is crucial for effective public health strategies. New study findings published in the Therapeutic Advances in Vaccines and Immunotherapy revealed varying levels of willingness to receive an RSV vaccine among older adults residing in Arab countries, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve vaccination rates.1
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RSV infection rates typically increase throughout the winter in temperate climates and throughout the year in tropical climates, with an uptake of cases during the hot, humid, rainy summer period. In 2015, RSV caused 336,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 in-hospital deaths among adults aged 65 and older worldwide, and the risk of severe RSV outcomes doubles for those over 60 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or congestive heart failure (CHF).2
The lack of RSV burden data from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Southeast Asia and the Middle East and North Africa, underscores the urgent need for enhanced research and surveillance due to limited awareness, underdiagnosis, and inadequate surveillance systems, which collectively overshadow the true impact of RSV, especially among elderly populations.1
Even with the significant advancements in RSV vaccine development, widespread success centers on overcoming vaccine hesitancy among older adults. Specifically, older adults in Arab countries face unique sociocultural, economic, and logistical barriers influencing their RSV vaccine attitudes, which was demonstrated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The study authors noted that targeted research to understand and address RSV vaccine acceptance among this population is essential.1
Researchers created a multinational cross-sectional study that followed strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines to evaluate potential factors that could contribute to the attitude regarding RSV vaccination among older adults residing in Arab countries.1
A total of 483 individuals were included from 5 Arab countries: Jordan (n = 239, 49.5%), Kuwait (n = 74, 15.3%), Egypt (n = 68, 14.1%), Saudi Arabia (n = 51, 10.6%), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE; n = 23, 4.8%). All individuals were required to complete a self-administered online survey that collected information on demographics, vaccine history, and key constructs linked to RSV vaccine attitude, including “fear,” information,” “accessibility,” “benefits,” and “conspiracy.” The responses were measured using a 5-point Likert scale that ranged from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.”1
The study authors noted that the "vaccine uptake score," reflecting both COVID-19 and influenza vaccination history, was calculated and then categorized into low or high uptake groups to assess prior vaccination behavior among participants.1
The results demonstrated that 51.1% (n = 247) expressed acceptance of the RSV vaccine, whereas 22.4% (n = 108) were hesitant and 26.5% (n = 128) refused. Additionally, Kuwait and Jordan had the highest refusal rate, as hesitancy varied across countries, and acceptance was the strongest in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while Jordan and Kuwait showed the lowest acceptance rates.1
Further results from the multivariate analysis revealed that perceived benefits (β=0.484, p<0.001), information needs (β=0.229, p<0.001), and prior vaccination history (β=0.087, p=0.016) significantly increased RSV vaccine acceptance, while stronger conspiracy beliefs (β=-0.083, p=0.035) decreased acceptance, and fear and accessibility did not significantly influence vaccine attitudes.1
The findings suggest that RSV vaccine acceptance among elderly individuals in Arab countries is significantly influenced by perceived benefits, access to accurate information, prior vaccination behavior, and negatively by conspiracy beliefs. The study authors noted that the results highlight the need for and importance of emphasizing vaccine efficacy and safety while addressing misinformation to effectively increase RSV vaccine uptake and mitigate the high burden of RSV-related illness in this population.1
