Vaccine Hesitancy in College Students.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted vaccine hesitancy as a critical public health concern.
• College students represent a high-risk demographic for COVID-19 transmission, necessitating focused research.
• Understanding vaccine hesitancy in this population is crucial for targeted public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among students at a mid-sized midwestern university.
• To identify specific demographic and behavioral correlates of vaccine hesitancy in the college student population.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 311 undergraduate and graduate students in June-July 2021.
• Data collection included COVID-19 vaccine behaviors, perceptions, and opinions.
• Quantitative and qualitative analyses were employed to determine vaccine hesitancy and associated factors.

Main Results:

• Significant associations were found between vaccine hesitancy and student age/status, prior influenza vaccination, and previous COVID-19 infection.
• Differences in vaccine hesitancy were observed across various racial/ethnic groups.
• The study identified key demographic and health behavior predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a present issue within university settings.
• Student age, academic status, influenza vaccination history, prior COVID-19 infection, and race/ethnicity are significant determinants of vaccine hesitancy.
• These findings underscore the need for tailored strategies to address vaccine hesitancy in college student populations.