Exploring the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers and general population using health belief model (Track Two (August 25th, 8-10 PM))

• Ali Azeez Al-Jumaili (University of Baghdad College of Pharmacy)

Abstract Rationale, aims and objectives: Little is known about hesitancy to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. The objectives of this study were (1) to assess the perceptions of healthcare workers (HCWs) and the general population regarding the COVID-19 vaccines, (2) to evaluate factors influencing the acceptance of vaccination using the health belief model (HBM), and (3) to qualitatively explore the suggested intervention strategies to promote the vaccination. **Methods:** This was a cross-sectional study based on electronic survey data that was collected in Iraq during December first-19th, 2020. The electronic survey was designed using Qualtrics. HBM was followed to develop the survey items. A regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing people accepting vaccination. Thematic analysis for participant comments to an open-ended question. Results: A total of 1680 completed surveys were received. The mean age of 31.2 ± 9.9 years, 53.0% were female and 47.0% were male. The largest group was HCWs (45.7%), followed by the general population (37.5%) and health college students (16.8%). Our findings expressed some hesitancy to receive the COVID-19 vaccine with the acceptance rate of 61.7%. The HCWs perceived significantly higher susceptibility and severity of the COVID-19 infection compared to the general population. The HCWs were significantly more likely than the general population to receive COVID-19 vaccine. Concerns with proper storage were the biggest barrier to vaccine receipt. The regression analysis indicated eight factors that were significantly associated with the willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine: Preventive measures, perceived benefit, perceived barriers, cue to action, subjective norm, supportive of vaccination in general, and having received a flu vaccine before. Conclusions: An awareness campaign can focus on enhancing the vaccine perceived benefit, debunking misconceptions, and increasing the disease's perceived severity. Additionally, public health leaders need to minimize the perceived barriers by providing the vaccines and appeasing people's concerns about their storage, effectiveness, and adverse events.

Apixaban Ultrafine O/W Nano Emulsion Transdermal Drug Delivery System: Formulation, In Vitro and Ex Vivo Characterization (Track Four (August 26th, 8-10 PM))

• Dr. Mustafa Aljazairy (College of Pharmacy / Al-Bayan University)

ABSTRACT Apixaban (APX) is a potent oral anticoagulant drug that directly inhibit coagulation factor Xa for prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following total hip or knee replacement surgery. Orally APX has poor water solubility (0.028 mg/mL) and relative low bioavailability (50%). Transdermal APX delivery was utilized as a convenient alternative route to control oral limitations. This study designed to formulate ultrafine APX o/w nanoemulsion with self-permeation enhancing properties through skin barrier utilizing the ultrafine (less than 50 nm) nanosized droplets as well as nanoemulsion components themselves to act as a permeation enhancer. Solubility study result in selecting triacetin oil, triton-x-100 and carbitol as oil phase, surfactant and cosurfactant respectively, while pseudoternary phase diagram construct nanoemulsion area for choosing formulations. Twenty-one o/w nanoemulsions prepared and characterized for droplet size, pH values, percent transmittance, electroconductivity, APX content, in vitro APX release, and ex vivo permeation through Albino Wistar rat abdominal skin to simulate human skin. Among formulations, ten preparations demonstrate ultrafine APX o/w nanoemulsions with high percent transmittance and electroconductivity, pH values appropriate for skin application, ultrafine droplet sizes (less than 50 nm) and accepted APX content. In vitro release studies reveal significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in APX dispersibility and diffusion through dialysis membrane. Ex vivo APX permeation through rat abdominal skin was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased in comparison with pure drug as assured by significant (p ≤ 0.05) enhancement in permeation parameters Jss, KP and ER with shorter Tlag, which could be attributed to permeation enhancing properties of nanoemulsion formulation itself. Key words: Apixaban (APX); Ultrafine o/w nanoemulsion; transdermal drug delivery.