Improving COVID-19 vaccine uptake: lessons from an academic institution in Saudi Arabia

Background: Rejection, hesitancy and low uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine are major public health challenges in Saudi Arabia.Aims: To address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and rejection at the King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) using evidence-based strategies.Methods: A questionnaire was administered electronically to participants at KSAU-HS to understand the reasons for vaccine hesitancy or rejection and develop an evidence-informed vaccination plan. Initial results from March 2021 showed that only 60% of respondents had taken at least 1 COVID-19 vaccine dose. Based on the results of the survey, KSAU-HS designed a 6-month vaccination campaign to raise awareness about the vaccine and its importance and increase acceptability rates. Mass media, social media, and direct messaging as reminders were used to address the barriers identified and to help the university community overcome fears and misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine.Results: The evidence-based interventions helped achieve a significantly high vaccination rate in the university community, with 99.7% of individuals vaccinated by October 2021; one of the highest vaccination rates among public universities in Saudi Arabia.Conclusion: Evidence-based interventions targeted at specific populations can help address prevailing concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine and other similar public health issues.