Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine Acceptance Among the Elderly in Al-Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE

The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine has recently been introduced in Saudi Arabia for adults aged 60 and older. There are limited published studies on this topic in Saudi Arabia for this age group. This study aimed to assess RSV vaccine acceptance among older adults in the Al-Qassim region of Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

The data were collected via online forms that invited participants aged 60 years and older, living in the Al-Qassim region, to participate. The study tool included items related to sociodemographic variables, chronic disease history, knowledge of the RSV disease, and perceived susceptibility and severity. In addition to previous RSV uptake and willingness to vaccinate, along with previous vaccination history for other indicated vaccines such as herpes zoster, Influenza, and Pneumococcal.

RESULTS

341 responses met the inclusion criteria. The majority of participants were aged < 70 years (74.5%), males (57.5%), and 38.1% had a university education or higher. 67.7% had at least one chronic disease, with diabetes being the most common (41.8%). The majority (83.6%) have never heard of RSV. Only 5 (1.5%) respondents reported prior uptake, while 16.1% demonstrated RSV acceptance overall. The most prominent facilitator among vaccine-acceptant individuals was physician or healthcare professional recommendation (45.5%). The most cited barriers among vaccine-hesitant or undecided individuals (n=286) were the perception of the RSV vaccine as "a new vaccine" (50.0%) and concerns about vaccine safety and effectiveness (44.1% and 26.2%, respectively). Only higher uptake of other indicated vaccines showed a significant association with vaccine acceptance (aOR 1.575, 95% CI 1.220-2.033, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated very low vaccine uptake and willingness, with reported barriers like concerns about the vaccine's recent introduction and uncertainty about its safety and effectiveness. Efforts tailored to educate the elderly about the vaccine's importance, safety, and effectiveness are needed to improve vaccine uptake.