The Willingness of Healthcare Workers in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to Be Vaccinated Against Monkeypox and Their Knowledge About Monkeypox: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background

Monkeypox (MP) is an emerging disease with the capacity for worldwide dissemination, endangering all nations. Healthcare workers (HCWs) frequently act as the initial point of contact for MP patients; therefore, evaluating their understanding of the disease and their perspectives on MP immunisation is crucial for effective prevention and control. This study aimed to assess HCWs' knowledge of and attitudes toward MP and associated vaccines.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed, focusing on HCWs in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through a standardised, self-administered online questionnaire provided in both English and Arabic. The questionnaire gathered the participants' sociodemographic information and assessed their knowledge, opinions, and attitudes concerning MP infection and vaccination. The questionnaire included multiple-choice items with response possibilities such as "Yes", "No" and "Don't know".

Results

In total, 428 HCWs participated in this study; 60.7% had adequate knowledge of MP, while 39.3% had inadequate knowledge. Some knowledge of specific aspects of the disease was reported to be variable, with 67.5% correctly identifying MP as a viral infection, 55.1% aware of the endemic nature of the disease in parts of Western and Central Africa, and 65.0% recognising skin rash as a common symptom. In terms of attitudes towards MP vaccination, 47.9% had a positive attitude, while 52.1% had a negative attitude. In total, 65.7% of the respondents indicated that vaccination is essential to controlling MP, while only 23.1% (95% CI: 19.1-27.1%) had received vaccination. Furthermore, 57.0% reported concerns about potential adverse effects. Educational level was significantly associated with knowledge of MP (p = 0.001), while job title (p = 0.008) and years of work experience (p = 0.018) were significantly associated with attitudes towards MP vaccination. Age group was significantly associated with MP vaccination status (p = 0.002), while gender, educational level, job title, and years of work experience were not significantly associated with vaccination status.

Conclusions

HCWs demonstrated an adequate level of knowledge about MP; however, important knowledge gaps and negative attitudes towards MP vaccination remained. Despite recognising the importance of vaccination, vaccine uptake was low. Educational level was associated with knowledge about MP, while job title and years of work experience were associated with attitudes towards MP vaccination, and age group was associated with MP vaccination status. Targeted educational interventions and evidence-based awareness programmes may enhance knowledge, improve preparedness for future MP outbreaks, and decrease vaccine hesitancy among HCWs.