Abstract
Over six million individuals have died as a result of the infection with
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes
Covid-19. The first COVID-19 vaccines were introduced to the public in
2020 through emergency authorizations. This study aims to uncover the
fears and misconceptions behind the hesitation or refusal of taking the
COVID-19 vaccine in Syria. Methods: Through a nationwide cross-sectional
study, a convenience sample of 10006 participants who were at least 18
years old and living in Syria participated in a validated questionnaire
during the period between January and May 2022 Results: The majority of
recruited individuals were female (n= 6048; 60.4%) from the (18-24) age
group (n= 5908; 59%). We recorded 5811 (58%) participants who still
have fears and anxieties about the COVID-19 vaccine. The main concerns
about vaccines were the rapid development of vaccines (41.4%), fears of
blood clots (37.9%), the fears of common side effects (35.2%), and
allergic reactions (26.5%). Conclusion: The COVID-19 vaccine is
considered the most promising measure for controlling the spread of
infection. The success of this policy will depend on the rate of global
acceptance of the vaccine. High variability in vaccine acceptance and
high vaccine hesitancy can affect the efforts to terminate the COVID-19
pandemic. Addressing the barriers associated with the acceptance of
COVID-19 vaccination will be the cornerstone
to achieving maximum vaccination coverage. The most common reasons
behind refusing the vaccine in Syria were fear of side effects, followed
by fears, general concerns, manufacturing-related reasons, and
conspiracy belief