Beliefs, attitudes and barriers associated with the uptake of the seasonal influenza vaccine among patients visiting primary healthcare clinics

OBJECTIVES: To explore beliefs, attitudes, and barriers associated with uptake of the seasonal influenza vaccine among visitors to primary healthcare clinics. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire-based study of 300 people visiting Family Medicine Centers, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between May 2017 and October 2017. RESULTS: Most respondents reported that they never get vaccinated (63.3%), but most intend to get the vaccination in future. Only 7.7% of respondents had ever experienced side-effects from the influenza vaccine. Reported barriers to vaccination include :a desire to avoid medication, the fact that the Ministry of Health has not made vaccination obligatory, concerns about the side-effects of the vaccine, the belief that one is at low risk of acquiring influenza, and the idea that influenza is a simple disease with no need for prevention. The rate of vaccination was higher among males than females. More females than males said they refused the influenza vaccine because of concerns about side effects or having a phobia of injections. CONCLUSION: Although most respondents said they were concerned about influenza and believed the vaccine to be effective, this study revealed a low rate of influenza vaccination. More public education and better arrangements for vaccination are required in the healthcare setting to overcome several reported barriers to vaccination.