Acceptability for COVID-19 vaccination: perspectives from Muslims. Issue 5 (30th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wong, Li Ping; Alias, Haridah; Megat Hashim, Megat Mohamad Amirul Amzar; Lee, Hai Yen; AbuBakar, Sazaly; Chung, Ivy; Hu, Zhijan; Lin, Yulan
• Is Part Of: Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics. Volume 18:Issue 5(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11-30
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- vaccine -- vaccine acceptance -- vaccine hesitancy -- Muslim; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2045855
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2164-5515

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study aims to assess COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among Muslims in Malaysia. A cross-sectional internet-based survey was to determine acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine. Other influential factors, namely socio-demographics, COVID-19 experience, self-perceived level of religiosity, support in immunization, COVID-19 immunization attitudes, and health fatalistic beliefs (measured using the Helpless Inevitability Subscale of the Religious Health Fatalism Questionnaire, RHFQ-HI) were investigated. The majority reported a definite intent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine (57.3%; 95% CI 55.0–59.6) followed by a probable intent (42.7%; 95% CI 40.4–45.0%). COVID-19 immunization attitudes measured by attitudinal barriers to vaccination scores were found to be the strongest influence of COVID-19 vaccination intent, whereby participants who have lower attitudinal barrier scores reported higher COVID-19 vaccination intent (OR = 6.75 ; 95% 5.20–8.75). Although religious health fatalism was not significantly associated with vaccination intent, a significantly higher proportion of participants with score 4–9 (61.9%) in the RHFQ-HI reported intent to receive COVID-19 vaccine than those with a score of 10–20 (53.5%), p < .001. Intervention for people with skeptical attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination is warranted.