Acceptance or rejection of the COVID-19 Vaccine: A cross-sectional study among Orthodontists

Background: Close contact with the infected patient is one reason for the spread of infection. COVID-19 can easily infect orthodontists; it may be found in saliva droplets during the removal or insertion of the orthodontic fixed appliance components or even during the removal of the removable appliance. Aims: This study aims to assess the acceptance or rejection of the COVID-19 vaccine among Iraqi orthodontists. Materials and Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey among orthodontists in Iraq was conducted. Thirteen pre-structured questions were sent in a Google Form via their WhatsApp and Telegram groups. Results: There were 123 orthodontists participating in this survey. The majority of the participants (96.75%) were aware of COVID-19, and 62.60% suggested that coronavirus poses a significant risk. Orthodontists who took the vaccine accounted for 93.50%; among them, those who preferred the Pfizer vaccine accounted for 57.39%. The side effects associated with the vaccine were the leading reasons for vaccine refusal. Conclusions: Although there is a high level of awareness about COVID-19 viruses among orthodontists, some abstained from the vaccine because of fear. The acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and the number of participants who got the vaccine were high to achieve precise infection control in orthodontic clinics and decrease viral infection spread.