Raghad Alnusairat

University of Jordan, Jordan

Abstract Title:

Would senior citizens get vaccinated against RSV? Exploratory analysis using a novel survey instrument

Biography:

Raghad Alnusairat is a final-year medical student at the University of Jordan. As a co-author of research published in peer-reviewed journals, she is actively involved in clinical studies focusing on infectious diseases and vaccine attitudes. Raghad aims to integrate her experience in immunization strategies into her future career in Pediatrics, with a focus on preventative care and public health awareness.

Research Interests:

Objective: To assess attitudes of senior citizens toward the recently approved RSV vaccines using a novel survey instrument. Methods: Fifteen survey items were developed from literature on adult vaccination attitudes toward respiratory viruses (SARS-CoV-2, influenza) and tested for content, face, and construct validity. Data was collected through in person interviews among adults aged 50 years or older in Jordan from May until June 2024. Construct validity was evaluated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with principal component extraction. Results: The final sample included 231 participants. EFA identified five domains explaining 71.9% of variance: Fear, Information, Accessibility, Benefit, and Conspiracy. Overall, 55.4% were willing to receive a free RSV vaccine, 16.0% were hesitant, and 28.6% were resistant. Multivariate analysis showed that acceptance was higher among those with lower income, prior vaccination history, agreement with the Benefit domain, and lower Fear scores. Conclusions: This study developed a validated survey instrument to assess RSV vaccine attitudes among older adults. Findings highlight the importance of emphasizing vaccine benefits, addressing fears, and considering socioeconomic factors when designing public health interventions. Applying this tool in other settings could guide strategies to improve RSV vaccine uptake and reduce disease burden in aging populations. Keywords: RSV, Vaccine Acceptance, Older Adults, Survey Validation, Public Health