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Updated: Mar 9, 2026
Vector Competence Analyses on Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes using Zika Virus
Published on: May 31, 2020
Zika virus knowledge, attitudes, and vaccine interest among university students
Julia E Painter1, Ashley N Plaster1, Dylan H Tjersland1
1Department of Global and Community Health, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, United States.
Background:
Zika virus vaccine development is underway. We examined interest in receiving a Zika virus vaccine (after one becomes commercially available) among students at a large public university in Northern Virginia.
Methods:
An online survey of Zika virus-related knowledge, attitudes, and interest in receiving a Zika vaccine was completed by 619 undergraduate students in April, 2016. Stepwise logistic regression with backward elimination was used to identify the variables most strongly associated with interest in being vaccinated against Zika virus.
Results:
More than half of participants (52.8%) reported that they would be likely or very likely to be vaccinated against Zika virus. Vaccination interest was significantly higher among participants who received an influenza vaccine in the past year (p=0.002), had higher levels of knowledge about Zika virus (p=0.046), reported knowing where to access information about Zika virus (p=0.041), had higher perceived susceptibility to Zika virus (p<0.001), and believed that the U.S. Government should prioritize actions to control Zika virus (p=0.001).
Conclusions:
Communication and intervention strategies encouraging vaccine uptake may benefit from increasing knowledge of Zika virus, addressing perceived susceptibility, and reaching students, travelers, and others who may be seeking information about prevention of Zika virus and other emerging infectious diseases.
