COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in conflict zones: A review of current literature

Bibliographic Details
Title: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in conflict zones: A review of current literature
Authors: Amna Siddiqui, Priya, Alishba Adnan, Samina Abbas, Khulud Qamar, Zarmina Islam, Zainab Syyeda Rahmat, Mohammad Yasir Essar, Ramadan Abdelmoez Farahat
Source: Frontiers in Public Health, Vol 10 (2022)
Publisher Information: Frontiers Media S.A., 2022.
Publication Year: 2022
Collection: LCC:Public aspects of medicine
Subject Terms: COVID-19, vaccine hesitancy, conflict zones, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Public aspects of medicine, RA1-1270
More Details: BackgroundVaccine hesitancy (VH) is prevalent in conflict zones due to a lack of essential resources and knowledge, thereby escalating the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) cases in these territories. This has resulted in a higher incidence of cases from exposure to a single COVID-19 positive case and further burdens the health care system of conflict zones which are already on the brink of collapsing.AimThis narrative review aims to determine VH to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine in five conflict zones that include Somalia, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, and Afghanistan.MethodologyA Boolean search was carried out in MEDLINE-PubMed from inception till 6 June 2022. The search was performed by using the following keywords: “(SARS-CoV-2 OR covid OR covid 19) AND (vaccine hesitancy OR covid vaccine acceptance OR intention to vaccinate) AND (Syria OR Yemen OR Palestine OR Afghanistan OR Somalia”). The full text of all relevant articles in English along with their supplementary material was extracted.ResultsAll the included studies reported at least 30% or more increase in vaccine hesitancy among conflict settings. VH was mostly due to a lack of available resources, lack of appropriate knowledge, and believing misleading rumors about the vaccine.DiscussionConsidering the massive amount of reluctance among people residing in conflict zones, the need to take effective measures against VH is undoubtedly apparent. This can be accomplished by carrying out mass vaccinations by the governments and proper health education through raising the public awareness regarding vaccines, thereby eliminating rumors that exacerbate the fear of adverse effects.ConclusionThe approach described in this article to combat VH can be implemented to increase vaccination rates and significantly alleviate R0 across the globe.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2296-2565
Relation: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1006271/full; https://doaj.org/toc/2296-2565
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1006271
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/406c45d9c64246d98d1dc3b79b1aa843
Accession Number: edsdoj.406c45d9c64246d98d1dc3b79b1aa843
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:22962565
DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2022.1006271
Published in:Frontiers in Public Health
Language:English