Abstract

Background: Influenza vaccination is the most efficient method of prevention of influenza virus infection and its complications. The study aims to identify the public awareness about the importance of influenza vaccines and investigate the barriers of refraining from the flu vaccine. The secondary aim was to measure the percent of individuals and health care providers who receive the vaccine and to show how health care providers can increase the awareness about influenza vaccine in their communities.
Methodology: A cross-sectional community-based study conducted in different regions in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through a predesigned online disseminated questionnaire, including all the relevant questions needed to fulfill the study objectives.
Results: The study included 1,018 participants; only 35.6% of the participants had received the flu vaccine. Out of them, 42.2% take the vaccine annually and 62.1% don’t have any side effects or immune reactions, while 31.2% take it at travel time for Hajj and Umrah. Only 41.9% of healthcare workers have received the vaccine, 50% of healthcare workers realize the importance of the influenza vaccine, whereas 59.2% said that awareness
campaigns are the way to raise awareness about the flu vaccine. Only 30.9% of children received flu vaccine (22.1% of them receive it annually). Only 6.2% of v accinated children had side effects.
Conclusion: In Saudi Arabia, a low coverage rate with influenza vaccine was found among the public or healthcare workers. Healthcare workers realize the importance of the influenza vaccine and recommend awareness campaigns to raise public awareness about the flu vaccine.

Key words: Influenza vaccine, public awareness, coverage rate, children, healthcare workers