Uptake of COVID-19 Booster Dose among Saudi Arabian Population

What is it about?

This study examined the uptake of the COVID-19 booster dose, A total of 2332 responded to our study. Overall, 527 (22.6%) participants had received a booster dose. An age of 55 and above (aOR: 5.415; 95% CI: 2.719–10.783), Eastern region (aOR: 2.513; 95% CI: 1.566–4.033), history of influenza vaccination at annual intervals (aOR: 2.387; 95% CI: 1.730–3.293), the first dose of Moderna vaccine (aOR: 1.324; 95% CI: 1.160–1.510), and cancer (aOR: 2.161; 95% CI: 1.218–3.879) were independent factors most associated with a higher uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose. In contrast, the second dose of Moderna vaccine (aOR: 0.794; 95% CI: 0.683–0.922), AstraZeneca vaccine (aOR: 0.691; 95% CI: 0.509–0.939), strong symptoms from side effects after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (aOR: 0.615; 95% CI: 0.404–0.935) were independent factors most associated with a lower uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose. Conclusions: Our findings indicate low COVID-19 vaccine booster uptake. This necessitates the need for strategies to address discouraging factors of the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose uptake and engage the Saudi population to raise awareness about the importance of the booster dose.

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Why is it important?

- Participants who had the COVID-19 infection after receiving a double dose of COVID-19 and reported critical symptoms were vaccinated least with booster doses (29.1% and 28.6%, respectively) (Table 2). In terms of COVID-19 symptoms, shortness of breath was associated with the highest booster uptake rate (19.8%), followed by anosmia (18.2%), myalgia (17.9%), and fatigue (17.6%). Symptom severity was negatively correlated with the increase in adverse effect cases among Pfizer vaccine first and second dose takers, as well as AstraZeneca vaccine second dose takers. Among participants who took the first dose of Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines, side effect symptoms remained steadily the same. On the other hand, Moderna’s second dose side effects were slightly positively correlated with the severity of symptoms.