Immunization Coverage and Barriers among Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims: Insights into Vaccine Uptake and Compliance
Abstract Background The Hajj pilgrimage poses significant public health challenges due to the risk of infectious disease transmission. Despite mandatory vaccination policies, barriers such as hesitancy, logistical issues, and vaccine availability persist. Objective This study assesses vaccine uptake...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44197-025-00447-1 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849238231446454272 |
|---|---|
| author | Adeeb A. Bulkhi Hani M. Almoallim Majed S. Obaid Nahla H. Hariri Hamsah S. Alqashqri Ismail A. Alghamdi Amar Mohammad A. Alkhotani Muhammad Irfanullah Siddiqui Heba M. Adly Mohammed A. Garout Elbagir A. Elfaki Saleh A. K. Saleh Noura Mohammed Bakhsh Raghda Sami Hassan H. Alhazmi Aous S. Alhazmi Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq Fahad A. Alamri Anas A. Khan |
| author_facet | Adeeb A. Bulkhi Hani M. Almoallim Majed S. Obaid Nahla H. Hariri Hamsah S. Alqashqri Ismail A. Alghamdi Amar Mohammad A. Alkhotani Muhammad Irfanullah Siddiqui Heba M. Adly Mohammed A. Garout Elbagir A. Elfaki Saleh A. K. Saleh Noura Mohammed Bakhsh Raghda Sami Hassan H. Alhazmi Aous S. Alhazmi Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq Fahad A. Alamri Anas A. Khan |
| author_sort | Adeeb A. Bulkhi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Hajj pilgrimage poses significant public health challenges due to the risk of infectious disease transmission. Despite mandatory vaccination policies, barriers such as hesitancy, logistical issues, and vaccine availability persist. Objective This study assesses vaccine uptake, reasons for compliance or non-compliance, and barriers among Hajj pilgrims. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted during the 2024 Hajj season, with data collected via structured interviews from 5,355 participants. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyzed vaccination status and influencing factors. Results Of the participants, 4298 (80.3%) reported receiving mandatory or recommended vaccines, including influenza, COVID-19, and meningococcal. Primary motivators for vaccination were compliance to mandatory requirements 2240 (52.1%) and healthcare provider recommendations 2018 (46.9%). Among non-vaccinated respondents, the main reasons included belief in vaccine ineffectiveness 250(23.7%), reliance on natural immunity 243(23%), and lack of awareness 174(16.5%). Common barriers included long wait times 721(13.5%) and limited access to vaccination centers 543(10.1%). Women and individuals with higher education demonstrated greater vaccine uptake, while logistical barriers were more prevalent among self-employed and less-educated participants. Conclusion Despite high vaccine uptake, barriers remain. Addressing hesitancy, improving access, and aligning vaccine availability with Hajj timing are essential to enhance coverage and reduce disease transmission risks. Clinical Trial Number Not applicable. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-76bc0477780e4d52ba7bef42eb3ba6a6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2210-6014 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-76bc0477780e4d52ba7bef42eb3ba6a62025-08-20T04:01:42ZengSpringerJournal of Epidemiology and Global Health2210-60142025-08-0115111910.1007/s44197-025-00447-1Immunization Coverage and Barriers among Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims: Insights into Vaccine Uptake and ComplianceAdeeb A. Bulkhi0Hani M. Almoallim1Majed S. Obaid2Nahla H. Hariri3Hamsah S. Alqashqri4Ismail A. Alghamdi5Amar Mohammad A. Alkhotani6Muhammad Irfanullah Siddiqui7Heba M. Adly8Mohammed A. Garout9Elbagir A. Elfaki10Saleh A. K. Saleh11Noura Mohammed Bakhsh12Raghda Sami Hassan H. Alhazmi13Aous S. Alhazmi14Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq15Fahad A. Alamri16Anas A. Khan17Internal Medicine Department, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura UniversityInternal Medicine Department, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine and Pilgrims Health care, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine and Pilgrims Health care, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine and Pilgrims Health care, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine and Pilgrims Health care, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine and Pilgrims Health care, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine and Pilgrims Health care, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine and Pilgrims Health care, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine and Pilgrims Health care, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura UniversitySurgery Department, King Faisal HospitalDirectorate of Institutional Excellence, Batterjee Medical CollegeAjyad Emergency Hospital, Ministry of HealthDiabetology and endocrine Centre, Hera’a HospitalOccupational Medicine specialistSpecialty Internal Medicine and Quality Department, Johns Hopkins Aramco HealthcareGlobal Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of HealthDepartment of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud UniversityAbstract Background The Hajj pilgrimage poses significant public health challenges due to the risk of infectious disease transmission. Despite mandatory vaccination policies, barriers such as hesitancy, logistical issues, and vaccine availability persist. Objective This study assesses vaccine uptake, reasons for compliance or non-compliance, and barriers among Hajj pilgrims. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted during the 2024 Hajj season, with data collected via structured interviews from 5,355 participants. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyzed vaccination status and influencing factors. Results Of the participants, 4298 (80.3%) reported receiving mandatory or recommended vaccines, including influenza, COVID-19, and meningococcal. Primary motivators for vaccination were compliance to mandatory requirements 2240 (52.1%) and healthcare provider recommendations 2018 (46.9%). Among non-vaccinated respondents, the main reasons included belief in vaccine ineffectiveness 250(23.7%), reliance on natural immunity 243(23%), and lack of awareness 174(16.5%). Common barriers included long wait times 721(13.5%) and limited access to vaccination centers 543(10.1%). Women and individuals with higher education demonstrated greater vaccine uptake, while logistical barriers were more prevalent among self-employed and less-educated participants. Conclusion Despite high vaccine uptake, barriers remain. Addressing hesitancy, improving access, and aligning vaccine availability with Hajj timing are essential to enhance coverage and reduce disease transmission risks. Clinical Trial Number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44197-025-00447-1HajjVaccine uptakeMass gatheringsVaccine barriersInfectious disease preventionPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Adeeb A. Bulkhi Hani M. Almoallim Majed S. Obaid Nahla H. Hariri Hamsah S. Alqashqri Ismail A. Alghamdi Amar Mohammad A. Alkhotani Muhammad Irfanullah Siddiqui Heba M. Adly Mohammed A. Garout Elbagir A. Elfaki Saleh A. K. Saleh Noura Mohammed Bakhsh Raghda Sami Hassan H. Alhazmi Aous S. Alhazmi Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq Fahad A. Alamri Anas A. Khan Immunization Coverage and Barriers among Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims: Insights into Vaccine Uptake and Compliance Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health Hajj Vaccine uptake Mass gatherings Vaccine barriers Infectious disease prevention Public health |
| title | Immunization Coverage and Barriers among Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims: Insights into Vaccine Uptake and Compliance |
| title_full | Immunization Coverage and Barriers among Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims: Insights into Vaccine Uptake and Compliance |
| title_fullStr | Immunization Coverage and Barriers among Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims: Insights into Vaccine Uptake and Compliance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Immunization Coverage and Barriers among Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims: Insights into Vaccine Uptake and Compliance |
| title_short | Immunization Coverage and Barriers among Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims: Insights into Vaccine Uptake and Compliance |
| title_sort | immunization coverage and barriers among hajj and umrah pilgrims insights into vaccine uptake and compliance |
| topic | Hajj Vaccine uptake Mass gatherings Vaccine barriers Infectious disease prevention Public health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44197-025-00447-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT adeebabulkhi immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT hanimalmoallim immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT majedsobaid immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT nahlahhariri immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT hamsahsalqashqri immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT ismailaalghamdi immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT amarmohammadaalkhotani immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT muhammadirfanullahsiddiqui immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT hebamadly immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT mohammedagarout immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT elbagiraelfaki immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT salehaksaleh immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT nouramohammedbakhsh immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT raghdasamihassanhalhazmi immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT aoussalhazmi immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT jaffaraaltawfiq immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT fahadaalamri immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance AT anasakhan immunizationcoverageandbarriersamonghajjandumrahpilgrimsinsightsintovaccineuptakeandcompliance |