COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Moroccan chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease patients

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the general knowledge of Chronic Inflammatory Rheumatic Disease (CIRD) patients concerning Covid-19 vaccination and to analyse factors influencing the acceptance of the vaccine. Methods: This cross-sectional study is based on a phone survey with anonymous data collection. It included consecutively adult Moroccan patients (aged more than 18 years) suffering from CIRD: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), spondyloarthropathy and undifferentiated CIRD. Results: A total 321 participants responded to the questionnaire. The mean age of patients was 47.6±12 years and women represented 65.7% of the study population. One third of the respondents (30.8%) had a university degree. Patients that accepted Covid-19 vaccination represented 34.6% of the cases. Older people were more likely to accept the vaccination (p=0.009). Subjects with a history of past Covid-19 infection were less willing to accept vaccination (0.003). Sufficient knowledge of Covid-19 vaccines efficiency and security was associated with higher acceptance of the vaccination. 58.9% of people who accepted the vaccination had been informed by their rheumatologist. In multivariate analysis, factors significantly associated with vaccine acceptance were past Covid-19 infection (p=0.01), the fact that Covid-19 vaccine was contraindicated in case of CIRD (p=0.02) and that it was recommended by the doctor (p<0.001) Conclusion: This study reflected a low level of acceptance of Covid-19 vaccination among the CIRD population in Morocco. Information campaigns on Covid-19 vaccination are needed in order to improve vaccine acceptance.