Albasry, ZahraaAl-Taie, Anmar2024-05-192024-05-1920232452-09182213-3984https://doi.org10.1016/j.cegh.2023.101217https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12713/4606Introduction: The newly developed and marketed vaccines along with concerns about vaccine safety and long -term side effects has been raised an alarming in the general population. The aim of this study was to assess the rate of acceptance, perceptions and concerns towards receiving COVID-19 vaccines and to explore the incidence of vaccines' side effects among Iraqi population in Baghdad province, Iraq.Method: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted via direct interviews among a convenient sample size of Iraqi population using a structured validated questionnaire consisting of using 24-item questionnaire to assess acceptance, concerns and the incidence of vaccines' side effects towards receiving COVID-19 vaccines.Results: A total of 500 participants with an average age of 27.8 +/- 3.7 years were included. Majority were females (70.6%). 43.4% had a history of COVID-19, and 46% received the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine. 73.4% (P < 0.0001) agreed about the importance of receiving the vaccination to protect the community against the COVID-19.46.8% (P < 0.0001) were unsure about the adverse effects and long-term vaccine safety. 72.8% reported that trans-mission of COVID-19 infection to family members is the main concern for accepting vaccination. Fatigue (60%), injection site reactions (55.8%) were the most common vaccine's side effects. Young age (P = 0.001), females (P < 0.0001), and university educational (P < 0.0001) were the most significant determents for accepting vaccination.Conclusion: This study highlights that the Iraqi population showed a considerable acceptance rate for the COVID-19 vaccines. However, vaccine safety is considered a high priority concern associated with the willingness of the population to vaccinate.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessAcceptanceCovid-19IraqSide EffectsVaccinesArticle2036684813WOS:0009930833000012-s2.0-85146326336N/A10.1016/j.cegh.2023.101217Q2