Functional, interactive and critical skills literacy among saudi nationals and the relationship to vaccine acceptance during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

To evaluate vaccine literacy, attitudes and perception among the general Saudi population and its association with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, the study utilized a descriptive correlational research design using a purposive sampling technique, in which data was obtained from 2,514 respondents from 13 provinces in Saudi Arabia. The information was gathered through social media. The results show that there were slightly more females intend to be vaccinated than males. Although the respondents showed little interest in vaccination against flu, most were willing to be vaccinated against COVID 19. The results regarding attitudes to COVID-19 immunization suggest that the respondents have a positive assessment of being vaccinated. The overall, male, and female populations' vaccine literacy functional and interactive-critical scores revealed that the female population had a considerably higher mean functional score than the male population. Age is connected to the decision whether or not to accept the COVID 19 vaccine, the older age group prefers to have the vaccine, while the younger respondents would rather take their chance through natural immunity.