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COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis

Rahbeni TA 1 , Satapathy P 2 , Itumalla R 3 , Marzo RR 4 , Mugheed KAL 1 , Khatib MN 5 Show all authors , Gaidhane S 6 , Zahiruddin QS 7 , Rabaan AA 8 , Alrasheed HA 9 , Al-Subaie MF 8 , Al Kaabil NA 10 , Alissa M 11 , Ibrahim AAAL 12 , Alsaif HA 13 , Naser IH 14 , Rustagi S 15 , Kukreti N 16 , Dziedzic A 17

Affiliations 

  • 1 Molecular Toxicology and Genetics, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • 2 Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
  • 3 School of Management, The Apollo University, Chittoor, India
  • 4 Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences, Curtin University, Miri Sarawak, Malaysia
  • 5 Division of Evidence Synthesis, Global Consortium of Public Health and Research, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education, Wardha, India
  • 6 One Health Centre (COHERD), Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education, Wardha, India
  • 7 South Asia Infant Feeding Research Network, Division of Evidence Synthesis, School of Epidemiology and Public Health and Research, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, India
  • 8 Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
  • 9 Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • 10 College of Medicine and Health Science, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  • 11 Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
  • 12 Deparment of Pharmacy, Jubail General Hospital, Jubail, Saudi Arabia
  • 13 Department of Medicine, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • 14 Medical Laboratories Techniques Department, AL-Mustaqbal University, Babil, Iraq
  • 15 School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
  • 16 School of Pharmacy, Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, India
  • 17 Department of Conservative Dentistry with Endodontics, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
JMIR Public Health Surveill, 2024 Apr 30;10:e54769.
PMID: 38687992 DOI: 10.2196/54769

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The unprecedented emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the development and global distribution of vaccines, making the understanding of global vaccine acceptance and hesitancy crucial to overcoming barriers to vaccination and achieving widespread immunization.

OBJECTIVE: This umbrella review synthesizes findings from systematic reviews and meta-analyses to provide insights into global perceptions on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy across diverse populations and regions.

METHODS: We conducted a literature search across major databases to identify systematic reviews and meta-analysis that reported COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy. The AMSTAR-2 (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) criteria were used to assess the methodological quality of included systematic reviews. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA 17 with a random effect model. The data synthesis is presented in a table format and via a narrative.

RESULTS: Our inclusion criteria were met by 78 meta-analyses published between 2021 and 2023. Our analysis revealed a moderate vaccine acceptance rate of 63% (95% CI 0.60%-0.67%) in the general population, with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 97.59%). Higher acceptance rates were observed among health care workers and individuals with chronic diseases, at 64% (95% CI 0.57%-0.71%) and 69% (95% CI 0.61%-0.76%), respectively. However, lower acceptance was noted among pregnant women, at 48% (95% CI 0.42%-0.53%), and parents consenting for their children, at 61.29% (95% CI 0.56%-0.67%). The pooled vaccine hesitancy rate was 32% (95% CI 0.25%-0.39%) in the general population. The quality assessment revealed 19 high-quality, 38 moderate-quality, 15 low-quality, and 6 critically low-quality meta-analyses.

CONCLUSIONS: This review revealed the presence of vaccine hesitancy globally, emphasizing the necessity for population-specific, culturally sensitive interventions and clear, credible information dissemination to foster vaccine acceptance. The observed disparities accentuate the need for continuous research to understand evolving vaccine perceptions and to address the unique concerns and needs of diverse populations, thereby aiding in the formulation of effective and inclusive vaccination strategies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023468363; https://tinyurl.com/2p9kv9cr.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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