A quantitative analysis of barriers to college students' seasonal vaccination intentions and behaviors

Vaccination is crucial to college student health, but quantitative analyses of barriers in this population are limited. The present study expands the work of Su and Chen to determine the relative influence of structural, psychological, and social vaccination barriers.

Participants were 650 students from a large, midwestern university during the 2024 vaccination season.

Participants were recruited from a college campus and randomized to respond to items assessing their barriers to, intentions to receive, and uptake of the COVID-19 or influenza vaccination.

Structural, psychological, and social barriers were differentially important to vaccinations and to intentions vs. uptake at time of collection. Results support Su and Chen's findings that low perceived necessity, social influence, and convenience constraints are barriers; however vaccine fear and lack of knowledge did not predict examined outcomes.

This study provides seasonal vaccination evidence specific to the college student population that can guide messaging and intervention strategies to support vaccination behavior.