Prevalence and Potential Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Resistance in Qatar: Results from a Nationally Representative Survey of Qatari Nationals and Migrants between December 2020 and January 2021

Background: Effective public health measures in tackling the global COVID-19 pandemic necessitate understanding risk of hesitance or resistance to vaccine uptake different populations. The Middle East and North Africa currently lacks vital representative hesitancy data. Methods: We conducted first national phone survey using probability sampling among adult population Qatar, between December 2020 January 2021, identify prevalence potential determinants willingness. This was categorized into: acceptance (strongly agree), disagree) (somewhat agree, neutral, somewhat disagree). Bivariate multinomial logistic regression models estimated associations willingness fifteen sociodemographic, work-, health-related variables. Findings: In total sample, 42.7% (95%CI: 39.5-46.1) were classified as accepting, 45.2% 41.9-48.4) hesitant, 12.1% 10.1-14.4) resistant. Those group reported no source endorsement will increase their confidence accepting (58.9% vs. 5.6% 0.2%, respectively). Hesitancy explained by female gender, Arab ethnicity, migrant status/type, concerns about side-effects. related bereavement, personal infection, quarantine status not significantly associated with any group. Absence lack concern contracting virus solely resistance. Interpretation: resistance, hesitance, side-effects is high Qatar’s compared those globally.  Urgent engagement should focus on women, Qataris (non-migrants) ethnicity. Funding: study funded Emergency Response Grant at Qatar University (QUERG-CAS-2020-1). Declaration Interests: P.M.H. reports fees from Janssen, Lundbeck, Otsuka, New Bridge Pharmaceuticals Sunovion, outside submitted work. All other authors report conflicts interest. Ethics Approval Statement: reviewed approved Institutional Review Boards (QU-IRB 1338-EA/20) Hamad Medical Corporation (MRC-05-089).