Knowledge, attitude, and hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccine among university students of Bangladesh

Familial Educational Factors and COVID-19 Vaccine Beliefs Among Mexican-Origin Youth

Mexican-origin youth, a substantial and expanding demographic among U.S. youth, were disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Understanding the factors shaping their COVID-19 vaccine beliefs is crucial for informing future pandemic preparedness and vaccination promotion efforts targeting this vulnerable population. While previous research has established links between education and health literacy (i.e., COVID-19 vaccine beliefs), most studies focus solely on educational attainment. Given that most youth have not yet fully realized their educational attainment, this study further investigates how youth's educational expectations and parents' educational levels influence their COVID-19 vaccine beliefs. Using data from 229 Mexican-origin youth, along with 224 of their mothers and 100 of their fathers, this study assesses the impact of youth's educational expectations, educational attainment, and their parents' educational attainment on their COVID-19 vaccine beliefs including motivation, attitudes, information access, and hesitancy. Regression analyses suggests a significant influence of youth's educational expectations on their attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines, surpassing the impact of the youths and their parents' educational attainment. These results underscore the importance of fostering and nurturing educational aspirations among minority youth. Future studies should acknowledge the multifaceted nature of education as a determinant of youth's COVID-19 vaccine beliefs, encompassing not only attainment but also educational expectations and parents' educational attainments.

Survival Analysis and Socio-Cognitive Factors in the Timing of COVID-19 Vaccination Among Mexican-Origin Youth

OBJECTIVE

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected ethnic minority populations and exacerbated preexisting health disparities. The current study aims to promote vaccine uptake among Mexican-origin youth from immigrant families by examining their time to COVID-19 vaccine uptake and assessing the influence of demographic, cognitive, and social factors on the incidence of COVID-19 vaccination.

METHODS

The study conducted Survival Analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model based on a sample of 202 Mexican-origin youth (61.39% female; Mage = 20.41) with data collected from August 2021 to January 2023 in central Texas.

RESULTS

The results show a critical time period for vaccine uptake (i.e., in the first six months after the vaccines were publicly available), evidenced by a surge decrease in COVID-19 unvaccination probability. In addition, more positive attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine (Hazard ratio/HR = 1.89, 95% Confidence Interval/CI = [1.64, 2.18]), greater motivation (HR = 2.29, 95% CI = [1.85, 2.85]), higher education levels (HR = 1.52, 95% CI = [1.24, 1.86]), and fewer general barriers to COVID-19 vaccine knowledge (HR = 0.75, 95% CI = [0.60, 0.94]) were associated with greater incidences of receiving COVID-19 vaccines at any given time point during the pandemic.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Mexican-origin youth occurred primarily within the initial months of vaccines being publicly distributed. To encourage vaccination among Mexican-origin youth, sustained COVID-19 vaccine promotion efforts are needed by targeting their motivation and positive attitudes and reducing barriers to vaccine information, particularly for youth with lower education levels.

Perceptions, attitudes, practices, and factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination among travelers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

BACKGROUND

Vaccination against COVID-19 has been the primary public health measure implemented to limit the spread of the disease. However, there is still considerable scope for improvement in vaccine coverage, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries. The factors influencing the acceptance or reluctance of the COVID-19 vaccine have been widely studied, but there is a gap in the literature with regard to dynamic populations, particularly travelers, who are one of the priority target groups for vaccination. This study assessed the perceptions, attitudes and practices regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, and explored factors associated with vaccination status among travelers.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted at several points of entry (PoEs) selected for six survey sites (N'djili airport, Ngobila beach, Lufu, Boma, Moanda, and Kananga), located in three provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa, Kongo Central and Kasaï Central), from February 20 to March 05, 2023. The data were summarized and logistic regression models were performed to assess factors associated with vaccination status.

RESULTS

A total of 2742 travelers were included in this survey. Of these, 54% had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that that several factors were significantly associated with vaccination status. These included age (under 60 years), marital status (single), occupation (other than healthcare worker), mode of travel (other than airplane), and poor perceptions of the vaccine. The most frequently cited reasons for vaccination among respondents who had received the vaccine were the prevention of COVID-19 infection and the ease of travel. In contrast, unvaccinated participants expressed greater concern about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, as well as vaccine-related side effects. Furthermore, travel disruption and inappropriate vaccination sites have been identified as significant obstacles to the acceptance of vaccination at the PoEs.

CONCLUSIONS

It is essential that awareness initiatives address concerns and misconceptions about vaccine safety and effectiveness. The influence of social media platforms may be harnessed for the dissemination of accurate information from the most trusted information sources, including healthcare professionals, to the target population. In addition, accompanying measures should be considered to facilitate vaccination compliance at different PoEs.

Sociocultural Antecedents and Mechanisms of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Mexican-Origin Youth

Mexican-origin youth, as a large and growing population among U.S. youth, have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Understanding what, when, and how sociocultural factors may influence their COVID-19 vaccine uptake could inform current and future pandemic-response interventions promoting vaccination behaviors among Mexican-origin youth. The current study takes a developmental approach to reveal the long-term and short-term sociocultural antecedents of 198 Mexican-origin adolescents' COVID-19 vaccination uptake behaviors and explores the underlying mechanism of these associations based on the Knowledge-Attitude-Behavior model. The current study adopted Wave 1 (2012-2015) and Wave 4 (2021-2022) self-reported data from a larger study. Analyses were conducted to examine four mediation models for four sociocultural antecedents-daily discrimination, ethnic discrimination, foreigner stress, and family economic stress-separately. Consistent indirect effects of higher levels of concurrent sociocultural risk factors on a lower probability of COVID-19 vaccine uptake were observed to occur through less knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccines and less positive attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccines at Wave 4. Significant direct effects, but in opposite directions, were found for the associations between Wave 1 ethnic discrimination/Wave 4 daily discrimination and the probability of COVID-19 vaccine uptake. The findings highlight the importance of considering prior and concurrent sociocultural antecedents and the Knowledge-Attitude-Behavior pathway leading to COVID-19 vaccination uptake among Mexican-origin youth and suggest that the impact of discrimination on COVID-19 vaccination uptake may depend on the type (e.g., daily or ethnic) and the context (e.g., during the COVID-19 pandemic or not) of discrimination experienced.

COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of STEM vs. non-STEM college students in Central Appalachia in 2021, a student-led project

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has provided the general public with an understanding of scientific processes and health systems surrounding vaccination in real-time. This report assesses responses of college students in a regional university to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors (KAB) survey in the spring of 2021. Methods: Participants were categorized based on study major: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), non-STEM, or health science disciplines. Chi-square tests were used to compare vaccination beliefs between groups. Results: 632 respondents were included in the final analysis. STEM students were the least likely to agree that vaccinated individuals should not need masks (21%) compared to non-STEM (42%) and health science majors (37%). 51%, 45%, and 35% of STEM, non-STEM, and health science students were vaccinated respectively. No statistically significant differences were noted between groups. Conclusions: Vaccine hesitancy was similar in all students. Area of study did not impact vaccine behaviors.

Perspectives of medical sciences students regarding COVID-19 vaccination: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The perspectives of medical sciences students regarding COVID-19 vaccination are crucial as they are future healthcare providers who will influence public health outcomes and vaccination rates. The objective of this study was to investigate medical sciences students' perspectives on vaccination and identify ways that these insights can be used to improve public health strategies.

METHODS

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, between October 2021 and March 2022. A total of 722 students who were willing to participate in this study were included using convenience sampling. A 47-item researcher-made questionnaire consisting of two sections (sociodemographic characteristics and perspectives regarding COVID-19 vaccination) was designed and utilized for data collection. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 using descriptive and analytical statistics (One-sample t-test, Friedman test, and Chi-Square) at a significance level of P ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

The mean scores for all questionnaire dimensions were significantly higher than the average value of 3.5 (p < 0.001). The highest mean pertained to the dimension of "Understanding the necessity of vaccination" (4.33 ± 0.78), while the lowest mean was related to the dimension of "Awareness about vaccination" (3.61 ± 0.65).

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that most medical sciences students surveyed had a positive perspective of COVID-19 vaccination. Further research, especially qualitative and longitudinal studies, is recommended to explore factors influencing students' perspectives on vaccination.

Attitude Towards Vaccination Among University Students at a Spanish University: Relationships with Sociodemographic and Academic Variables

OBJECTIVES

This descriptive, cross-sectional study examines the attitude towards vaccination of students at the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain) and explores its relationship with sociodemographic and academic variables using a bivariate analysis and linear and logistic regression.

METHODS

The attitude towards vaccination of 3577 students of different disciplines was assessed using an online version of the Questionnaire on Attitudes and Behaviours towards Vaccination. In addition, all students were asked if they sought information produced by anti-vaccination groups and whether they identified as "anti-vaccine".

RESULTS

In general, the students showed a favourable attitude towards vaccination. Older students, those in paid employment, and those undertaking non-health-related studies had less favourable attitudes. Spanish-born and female students showed more positive attitudes than foreign-born and non-binary/male students, respectively. Only a small proportion of students identified as anti-vaccine.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite these positive results, the need for interventions targeting specific groups with less favourable attitudes, such as older students, employed students, and those in non-health-related fields, is clear.

Assessing vaccinated persons' intention to take the COVID-19 boosters using a combined theoretical framework: an online survey in Egypt

Vaccines, like the Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, can control diseases, but vaccine hesitancy reduces their use. It is important to assess the intention to use COVID-19 vaccines boosters and the determinants of this intention to help in developing programs to promote the uptake of boosters. An online survey collected data from adults in Egypt between March and June 2022 using a questionnaire that assessed demographic characteristics, and constructs of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and the Health Belief Model (HBM). The survey was uploaded to SurveyMonkey and the links were posted on social media platforms. Binary regression analysis was used and the dependent variable was intention to use boosters of COVID-19 vaccines. The independent variables were indicators of the HBM including perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 infection (medical history) and possibility of disease prevention (awareness of the availability of types of COVID-19 vaccines); and indicators of the TPB including attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines (that they are harmful, that they may lead to death and confidence in locally and foreign manufactured vaccines), perceived norms (the percentage of vaccinated persons in one's circle) and perceived control over booster uptake (presence of government mandates for COVID-19 vaccination). The confounders were sociodemographic factors (age, sex, education, and place of residence). Complete responses were available from 1113 out of 1401 participants (79.4%), with mean (SD) age = 25 (9.5) years, of whom, 66.7% (n = 742) were females and 68.6% (n = 764) were university students. About 39.4% and 31.2% indicated that they would get or would definitely get the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccines. In multiple regression, intention to use a booster dose was significantly related to not agreeing (AOR = 4.87, P < 0.001) or not agreeing at all (AOR = 8.46, P = 0.001) that vaccines are harmful and to having no confidence (AOR = 0.21, P < 0.001) or no confidence at all (AOR = 0.14, P < 0.001) in foreign-manufactured vaccines. Most university-educated Egyptians in the study intended to take the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose and this intention was associated with attitude toward the harm of the vaccine and confidence in foreign-manufactured vaccines. Awareness campaigns are needed to counteract misinformation and promote booster dose uptake.

Effects of Message Framing and Narrative Format on Promoting Persuasive Conversations with Others About the Flu Vaccine

This study examines the effects of message framing (loss vs. gain) and format (narrative vs. expository) on intentions to discuss flu vaccination with a close social referent. We test the effects of video messages using a two-wave web-based randomized experiment among adults in Israel (baseline: N = 429, one-month follow-up: N = 241). Exposure to narrative messages was positively associated with intentions to discuss flu vaccination. Exposure to loss-framed messages was positively associated with increased likelihood of discussing vaccination with the referent at follow-up. Effects of message framing and format were moderated by concern for the referent's health. Findings support the use of persuasive messages to motivate interpersonal conversation to promote vaccination. Results contribute to theory on risk-framing by showing that audiences may evaluate loss-framed messages according to their risk perceptions, when greater concern for health risks motivate action, not only for one's own health but for another person's health.

Knowledge, attitude, intentional practice and individualized determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among adults: A cross-sectional study in Tanzania

AIM

The study assessed the knowledge, attitude, intentional practice and individualized factors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among adults in Tanzania.

DESIGN

Hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Quantitative approaches were adopted to study 312 randomly selected adults using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis established frequencies and percentages of variables at a 95% confidence interval and a 5% significance level.

RESULTS

Mean age was 24.66 ± 6.503 of which 61.5% were males. 86.9% of them were not vaccinated. 57.7% of respondents had inadequate knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine, and 61.5% had negative attitudes towards it. 63.8% of adults demonstrated an unwillingness to be vaccinated. Participants' sociodemographic characteristics profiles were significantly associated with COVID-19 vaccine knowledge, attitude and willingness to uptake it (p < 0.05). Findings highlight the need for large-scale interventions to address the low uptake vaccine. Adults' willingness to get a coronavirus vaccine was comparatively low. Sociodemographic profiles, knowledge and attitude were associated significantly with low uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine among adults in Tanzania.

Cultural Tightness-Looseness: How Was It Related to Vaccination Behavior among University Students in Japan, the United States, and India?

As a next step to better understand the role of cultural tightness-looseness (CTL), this study aimed to examine whether CTL is associated with COVID-19 vaccination behavior among university students, taking into consideration sociocultural perceptions of vaccination across countries. A global online survey was conducted. University students from Japan, the US, and India participated. The average CTL score, three sociocultural perceptions related to COVID-19 vaccination, side effects, infection experience of themselves and family members, and other demographic variables were used to identify the model and to explain the second vaccination status using stepwise logistic regression methods with Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) scores which was for both the total, with the country as a variable, and for each country. Analyses of data from 1289 respondents who received the first vaccine revealed the essential role of CTL in individuals getting the second vaccine, while also revealing differences between countries. Regardless of the limitations, this study adds knowledge about CTL's roles in the COVID-19 vaccination behavior among young generations and provides insights into public health communication practices for issues like COVID-19.

Unpacking COVID-19 Vaccine Attitudes: Exploring Hesitancy and Acceptance Among Undergraduate Students in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND

Vaccine hesitancy is a significant global health concern, and mass vaccination is essential in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Undergraduate students need to be prioritized for vaccination as they continue their academic curriculum physically. However, limited research explores vaccine hesitancy and acceptance among undergraduate students in Bangladesh. Therefore, this study evaluated vaccine hesitancy and acceptance among this population.

METHOD

A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted between May and June 2021 using a structured questionnaire to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and acceptance among undergraduate students in Bangladesh. The Oxford Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Scale was used to measure vaccine hesitancy. The study used convenient sampling.

RESULT

Across the country, 334 undergraduate students participated in this study on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, with a mean age of 22.4 years. Most participants were male and unmarried, most having spent four years at university. 89.52% of participants would accept a COVID-19 vaccine if it were suggested by educational institutions or available, while 4.49% refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants showed low levels of vaccine hesitancy, with a mean score of 10.77 on the Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Scale. Most participants had a positive attitude towards receiving the vaccine, with the majority wanting to get it as soon as it becomes available. No association was found between vaccine acceptance and participants' background characteristics.

CONCLUSION

Our study found a high level of vaccine acceptance among undergraduate students in Bangladesh, indicating that this group can be vaccinated quickly, significantly accelerating vaccination goals. However, further large-scale studies are recommended among vulnerable groups, including school and college students, to ensure vaccine preparedness.

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine booster dose among the people of Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

Vaccine booster dose (VBD) provides a potential therapeutic alliance in preventing breakthrough infection and new variant's arrival while preserving long-lasting host immunity. This study aimed to analyze COVID-19 VBD willingness and identified the key determinants of VBD acceptance among the general people of Bangladesh. This survey-based study applied a quantitative research paradigm. A validated, anonymous, and multi-item questionnaire was adopted through a theoretical review of pertinent literature on the topic. Data were collected between August 2022─October 2022, and sampling was done randomly. A total of 704 individuals were invited via face-to-face interview approach; however, 13.8 % of them declined to give consent, which resulted in the participation of 607 potential respondents. The main outcome measure was COVID-19 VBD acceptance willingness. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to rationalize the study's objectives. The pooled COVID-19 booster vaccine acceptance rate was 70.0 % (95 % confidence Interval [CI]: 67─73) among Bangladeshi people. An analysis of binary logistic regression revealed that, out of 14 potential factors, "efficacy", "repeated immunity", "communication", and "trust" showed highly significant positive association (adjusted odds ratio [aOR ] = 2.151 95 % CI: 1.391─ 3.508, aOR = 2.033 95 % CI: 1.299─ 3.181, and aOR = 2.552 95 % CI: 1.557─4.183 respectively, p<0.01), and "equal safety", "risk-benefit ratio" and "community protection" had significant positive association (aOR = 1.739 95 % CI: 1.070─2.825, aOR = 1.712 95 % CI: 1.116─2.627, and aOR = 1.628 95 % CI: 1.395─0.998, p<0.05) with VBD acceptance. However, post-vaccination "side effects" showed significant negative (aOR = 0.393 95 % CI: 0.237─0.674, p<0.01) associations with VBD acceptance. The odds of accepting the COVID-19 vaccine booster was found 1.26, and it was found insignificant (p>0.05) in the Chi-squared test. Bangladeshi people expressed a moderately high level response to COVID-19 VBD acceptance. A positive attitude towards the COVID-19 VBD is an outcome of this study, regardless of the circumstances, as far as safety, efficacy, perceived health benefits, communication, trust, and community resistance are concerned. Post-vaccination side effects fear was the primary reason for booster dose skepticism as well as a barrier to administering booster shots. The confidence in COVID-19 VBD will be boosted when mass people are effectively communicated and vaccine's data become more available publicly.

Knowledge, beliefs and hesitancy among medical and non-medical university students toward COVID-19 vaccination in Punjab, Pakistan

This study assessed the knowledge, beliefs, and hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccination among medical (MS) and nonmedical students (NMS) in Punjab, Pakistan. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted by enrolling 624 MS and 476 NMS in the largest province of Pakistan, i.e., Punjab. Chi-square tests were used to determine significant frequency distributions, and logistic regression to determine associations. The majority of students, males and females, were between 18-25 years of age and had good self-reported health. MS demonstrated adequate knowledge and positive beliefs about COVID-19. Fewer MS were indecisive about the vaccination; nonetheless, overall, 71.5% of MS and 78.2% of NMS were willing to receive the vaccine. A greater number of MS students were concerned about vaccine safety or side effects. A greater number of NMS demonstrated misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine - its effect on fertility and alterations in genomic DNA. The binary logistics regression exhibited a significant association between students' knowledge in the medical sciences (OR;1.53,p = 0.002) and area of residence (OR;1.60,p = 0.008). Compared to NMS, MS had a better understanding of the COVID-19 vaccine and were concerned about the acceptability of the vaccine, although NMS had misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine. Knowledge was significantly associated with the field of study.

COVID-19 Vaccination Knowledge and Attitude Among the General Population in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background The population's hesitancy to get the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination may pose a risk to public health worldwide. However, the causes and contributors to vaccine hesitancy in the Saudi people need to be understood. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination among the general population in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online structured questionnaire titled "Knowledge and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination." The questionnaire collected demographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination among the general population in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was distributed through links on various sites, including Twitter and WhatsApp. Results A total of 544 participants were included in the present study. Overall, 64.9% were males, and 35.1% were females. Most of the population had received three doses (83.6%) of the COVID-19 vaccine. About half of the participants had a university education (56.8%), 17.5% of respondents were postgraduates, and 14.2% had secondary education. Overall, 41.4% of the population had a low knowledge level, and 58.5% had a low attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination. Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the population's knowledge and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination. In addition, the education level substantially affected the knowledge and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination. Additionally, knowledge of COVID-19 vaccination had a significant correlation (p < 0.05) with the attitude toward the vaccine. Conclusions Despite the high prevalence of the population who received the three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Jeddah city, the study showed insufficient knowledge and attitude among the population toward COVID-19 vaccination. However, fortunately, education plays an essential role in improving the knowledge of COVID-19 vaccination.

Assessing the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Vaccination Practices Towards COVID-19 Vaccination Among Mainland Chinese Nursing Students and Interns: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

Objective

This study investigated factors influencing the knowledge, attitudes, practice profiles, and vaccination intentions among Chinese nursing students and nursing interns toward the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination.

Materials and Methods

The multicenter cross-sectional study was based on a self-reported questionnaire collecting information among nursing students and nursing interns from three major geographic regions of China, and the sample was selected by consecutive sampling. The questionnaire was developed by knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) theory. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.

Results

A total of 3180 nursing students and interns (effective rate: 99.8%) from six Chinese provinces were polled. The vaccine hesitation rate was 9.65% (307/3180), 2230 participants (70.1%) had gotten at least one dose of the vaccine, and 643 participants (67.7%) had indicated a readiness to be vaccinated. The results showed that older age, higher academic background, perfect vaccine management, others' recommendations, influenza vaccination history, epidemic under control, knowledge of vaccines or intervals, and vaccine knowledge training were associated with higher vaccination rates. Conversely, vaccine hesitancy was caused by a perceived lack of physical need, uncertainty about vaccination requirements, and fear of vaccination.

Conclusion

This study provided population-based estimates of COVID-19 vaccine uptake intention among mainland Chinese nursing students and interns. Factors such as age, education, vaccine knowledge, and attitudes influence COVID-19 vaccine behaviour. Relevant authorities should understand the barriers to COVID-19 vaccination from knowledge, attitude and practice, which is significant for formulating effective response strategies in future global public health crises.

Vaccine Hesitancy in College Students

(1) Background: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy has become an increasingly important topic and has created significant concerns in public health. It is important to explore vaccine hesitancy among college students as they have been identified to be a high-risk group for COVID-19 transmission. This study aims to investigate COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in college students on a midsized midwestern university campus. (2) Methods: Data were collected from 311 undergraduate and graduate college students during June and July 2021. Participants completed a survey on COVID-19 vaccine behaviors, perceptions, and opinions. Quantitative and qualitative analysis was performed to identify vaccine hesitancy and influencing factors in the student population. (3) Results: The results of this study demonstrated significant relationships between older and younger undergraduate students (OR > 1, p < 0.05), students who received a yearly influenza vaccine and those that did not (p < 0.05), and students who had a previous COVID-19 infection and those that did not (OR > 1, p < 0.05). We also determined a significant difference between some racial/ethnic groups and vaccine hesitancy status. (4) Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy exists on college campuses, and is influenced by age and student status, influenza vaccination status, previous COVID-19 infection, and race/ethnicity.

Multi-dimensional potential factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine booster acceptance and hesitancy among university academic community in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional comparative study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Vaccination is the most powerful public health intervention proven to be safe and effective in the battle against the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite the potential therapeutic benefits of primer vaccine dosage regimens, public perceptions of COVID-19 vaccine booster dose (VBD) acceptance and hesitancy vary among various sub-group populations. This study investigates COVID-19 vaccine booster dose acceptance and compares the multi-dimensional potential factors influencing VBD acceptance and hesitancy among university teachers and the student community in Bangladesh.

METHODS

This web-based cross-sectional study employed an anonymous, validated, and self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire items were adopted from a theoretical analysis of the recent relevant literature. The questionnaire was deployed in an on-line-enabled format (Google form) and conveniently distributed to 685 teachers and 990 students between 15th June, 2022 and 15th August, 2022 which resulted in the participation of 1250 (505 teachers vs.745 students) total respondents (response rate 73.72% vs. 75.25%) from various universities in Bangladesh. A non-parametric analytical tool (binary logistic regression) was applied to rationalize the study objectives and a Chi-squared test was performed to estimate the booster- hesitant risky group.

RESULTS

The pooled COVID-19 vaccine booster dose acceptance rates were 84.6% (95% CI 81.5─87.7) and 67.2% (95% CI 63.8─70.6) for teachers and students in the university academic community, respectively. In employing a binary logistic regression, this study revealed that out of twelve (12)multi-dimensional key predictors, "equal safety", "risk-benefit ratio", and "variant control" had a significant positive association with VBD acceptance in both sets (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, and p = 0.005, respectively). Varied effects were found for several predictors; post-vaccination "side effects" had a significant negative association (p = 0.020) and "community protection" had significant positive association (p = 0.034) with vaccine booster dose acceptance in the teachers community while these variables were insignificant in the students cohort. "Trust" had a highly significant positive association (p = 0.000);"communication" and "academic attainment" had significant positive associations (p = 0.033 and 0.024, respectively) with VBD acceptance in the students cohort, while these predictors were insignificant in the teachers community. Women were more likely to receive a third dose of the vaccine (OR = 1.4 vs. 0.9 between teacher and student model); however, no significant association between gender and booster vaccine acceptance was found in a comparative Chi-squared model. Therefore, statistically, the booster vaccine-hesitant risky group was not found to implicate the massive booster vaccine drive among the university academic community.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19 booster vaccine acceptability among the student cohort was slightly lower than pre-roll-out intent. The teacher community was more inclined to get booster vaccinated. Moreover, differences were found between the multi-dimensional potential factors associated with VBD acceptance among teachers and students in university settings. This study explicitly confirmed positive attitudes toward the safety, health benefits, and variants control of the COVID-19 VBD under any circumstances. Post-vaccination side effect concern was found to be a barrier to administering booster shots and a reason for booster skepticism. Tailored communication and health education interventions need to be adopted to improve the public awareness of booster vaccine consequences, and limit booster skepticism.

Impact of a Video-Based Educational Intervention on the Levels of Knowledge and Concerns about COVID-19 Vaccination

BACKGROUND

The hesitancy to receive the COVID-19 vaccine plays a role in delaying the current global and national COVID-19 management strategies. Evidence has highlighted the importance of examining the public's concerns and knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines in sustaining public prevention of the further spread of the virus worldwide. This study aimed to assess the impact of a video-based educational session on the Saudi public's levels of knowledge and concerns about the COVID-19 vaccination.

METHODS

In a double-blind, randomized posttest-only control group study design, 508 Saudis were randomized to an experimental group (n = 253) and a control group (n = 255). The experimental group was exposed to a video-based educational session, while the control group was not. Then both groups were subjected to a validated questionnaire to assess their level of knowledge and concerns about the vaccine.

RESULTS

In comparison to the control group, the experimental group showed a significantly lower proportion of overall high concern (0.4% vs. 5.5%, p < 0.001) and a higher proportion of overall good knowledge (74.2% vs. 55.7%, p < 0.001). After adjustment for possible confounders, the experimental group showed a significantly lower percent mean score of overall concern (45.0% vs. 65.0%, p < 0.001) and a higher percent mean score of overall knowledge (74.2% vs. 55.7%, p < 0.001) than the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The video-based educational intervention positively impacted the levels of knowledge and concerns about COVID-19 vaccination among the experimental group. These interventions safeguard against the rumors and misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccinations. Further studies on the impacts of such interventions on vaccine uptake are recommended.

Knowledge, attitudes, and factors determining the willingness for COVID-19 vaccination among students in Bangladesh: An online-based cross-sectional study

Aim

The most effective way to avoid COVID-19 is through immunization against the virus that causes the disease. The primary objective of this study was to assess the extent of knowledge, attitudes, acceptability, and factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among higher secondary and university students in Bangladesh.

Subject and methods

A structured questionnaire-based online survey was conducted among 451 students residing in Khulna and Gopalganj cities from February to August, 2022. The willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccine was compared with a few covariates using the chi-square test, and we then used binary logistic regression to identify the determinants that led Bangladeshi students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Results

During the study period, almost 70% of the students obtained immunizations, with 56% of men and 44% of women reporting having done so. The age range of 26-30 years had the highest percentage of students who had received vaccinations, and 83.9% of students agreed that the COVID-19 vaccine is crucial for students. The results of the binary logistic regression clearly show that gender, degree of education, and respondents' willingness, encouragement, and beliefs have a significant impact on students' eagerness to receive COVID-19 vaccination.

Conclusion

The rising trend in vaccination status among Bangladeshi students is highlighted by this study. Additionally, our results eloquently demonstrate that vaccination status varies by gender, education level, willingness, encouragement, and respondent's viewpoint. The outcomes of this study are essential for health policy makers and other interested parties to successfully organize their immunization program for young adults and children at various levels.

Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions, and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination among Pharmacy and Non-Pharmacy Students

University students are a sub-group of the population at high risk of COVID-19 infection, and their judgments on vaccination affect the public attitudes towards vaccination. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among pharmacy and non-pharmacy students. A cross-sectional study was conducted by enrolling pharmacy (375) and non-pharmacy (225) students from the universities in Lahore. Chi-square analysis was used for significant frequency distributions and a 5-point Likert scale was used to score attitude, perception, and acceptance. The majority of the students were aged between 19-24 years, hailing from urban and middle-class families with good self-reported health. The preferred vaccine was Pfizer, followed by Sinopharm and Sinovac. The major source of information was social media, followed by government campaigns and family members. The pharmacy students demonstrated better knowledge and positive attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. The non-pharmacy students scored higher for the questions based on scientific leads, myths, and baffling conspiracies. The non-pharmacy students showed higher hesitancy/barrier total scores related to their trust in the health system, COVID-19 vaccine storage, and efficacy. Data suggested that pharmacy students exhibited better knowledge, positive attitudes, and perceptions about COVID-19 vaccination. Overall, vaccine efficacy and safety were mutual concerns. Nonetheless, non-pharmacy students were hesitant due to mistrust in the health system of Pakistan.

Knowledge and Perception of the Employees Towards COVID-19 Vaccination at Palestinian Universities

Introduction

Major efforts are being made to control the spread and impact of the coronavirus pandemic using vaccines. However, willingness to be vaccinated depends largely on factors beyond the availability of vaccines.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and perception of university employees towards the COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and June 2021. A total of 310 university employees from six Palestinian universities participated in the study. A self-reported questionnaire was used for data collection and included the following: personal and medical characteristics of the university employees' knowledge and perception regarding receiving the COVID-19 vaccination.

Results

Three hundred and ten out of 336 questionnaires (92.3% response rate) were completed and returned by the participants. The results revealed that 41.9% of university employees had good knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccination. On the other hand, 51.9% of them had a positive perception of the COVID-19 vaccination. Also, there is a significant difference between the level of knowledge and perception of the COVID-19 vaccine (p < .05).

Conclusion

Less than half of the university employees had good knowledge, and half of them had a positive attitude towards the COVID-19 vaccination. Also, it has been determined that there is a relationship between the level of knowledge and perception of the COVID-19 vaccine. The study recommended that employees should be involved in educational campaigns to increase their knowledge of the importance of vaccines in COVID-19 prevention.

Prevalence and Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in South East Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 1,166,275 Respondents

Despite its importance in guiding public health decisions, studies on COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and its determinants in South East Asia (SEA) are lacking. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and the variables influencing the vaccine's acceptance. This review is registered under PROSPERO CRD42022352198. We included studies that reported vaccination acceptance from all SEA countries, utilising five academic databases (Pubmed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, and Google Scholar), three Indonesian databases (the Indonesian Scientific Journal Database, Neliti, and Indonesia One Search), two pre-print databases (MedRxiv and BioRxiv), and two Thailand databases (ThaiJo and Thai-Journal Citation Index). The analysis was conducted using STATA 17.0 with metaprop commands. The prevalence for COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in SEA was 71% (95%CI 69-74; I2 99.87%, PI: 68.6-73.5). Myanmar achieved the highest COVID-19 vaccination acceptance prevalence, with 86% (95%CI 84-89), followed by Vietnam with 82% (95% CI 79-85; I2 99.04%) and Malaysia with 78% (95%CI 72-84; I2 99.88%). None of the ten determinants studied (age, sex, education, previous COVID-19 infections, smoking and marriage status, health insurance, living together, chronic diseases, and healthcare workers) were significantly associated with acceptance. This result will be useful in guiding vaccination uptake in SEA.

Satisfaction with COVID-19 Vaccines in Health Care Workers and the General Population: A Cross-Sectional Study in Urban Bangkok, Thailand

Background: COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy is a global issue. Many people are concerned about experiencing side effects from the vaccine. This study evaluated satisfaction with the COVID-19 vaccine in the general population (GP) and healthcare workers (HCWs) in Bangkok, Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was distributed from September-December 2021. Independent sample t-tests were used to compare GP and HCW participants’ total vaccine satisfaction scores as well as their satisfaction with varying vaccine types. Multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors of satisfaction scores among GP and HCWs. Results: A total of 780 valid questionnaire responses were obtained. The majority of GP participants (n = 390) had received their first (93.3%) and second (88.5%) vaccination shots by viral vector vaccine; however, 90% had not received a third dose (booster). In contrast, the majority of HCW participants (n = 390) had received their first (92.8%) and second (82.8%) vaccination doses by the inactivated vaccine, and 83% had received a third vaccine dose. HCWs had significantly higher total satisfaction scores than GP participants (p = 0.034), and they were also significantly more satisfied with the mRNA vaccine as a third dose (p = 0.001). Multiple linear regression models found less association with vaccine satisfaction among GP participants who had not isolated following exposure to COVID-19 and those who have never been at risk of infection (ᵦ −0.159; 95% CI −12.867, −1.877; p = 0.009). Among HCWs, being married (ᵦ 0.157; 95% CI 0.794, 3.278; p = 0.001) or divorced (ᵦ 0.198; 95% CI 3.303, 9.596; p < 0.01) was more closely associated with vaccine satisfaction than being single. Conclusion: HCWs were more satisfied with the type and efficacy of inactivated, viral vector, and mRNA vaccines than GP participants, and the former were also more satisfied with the cost of vaccine boosters. Our results indicate that satisfaction with the COVID-19 vaccine is based on academic knowledge sharing and the government’s promotion efforts. Future research will explore strategies to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination.

Mental Health Condition among University Students of Bangladesh during the Critical COVID-19 Period

Bangladesh's education sector has been in a state of flux since COVID-19. During the pandemic, all university campuses were closed. There was a mental health issue among the students. This study aims to examine the mental health condition and the determinants that contribute to adverse mental health conditions among university students of Bangladesh. A survey was performed online among university students in Bangladesh, in mid-June 2020 when averaging 3345 affected cases of the population daily. The convenience sampling technique was used and the survey gathered data from 365 university students. The relationship between general information and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) subscales of university students was determined. The questionnaire was administered to respondents during the pandemic, which ensured fast replies. Linear regression models were used for statistical analysis. University students indicated normal levels of depression (30.41%), anxiety (43.29%), and stress (47.40%). However, a disproportionate number of extremely depressed, anxious, and stressed university students suggested a mental health status of concern. There were significant connections between the individual's opinion of social satisfaction, mental health concerns, and the present location's safety with an undesirable mental health condition. Female students were shown to be much more anxious and stressed than male students. Capital Dhaka city students were more depressed and anxious than students outside of Dhaka. Financial and psychological support for students may help mitigate the psychological impact. Authorities should make effective efforts to reduce mental health problems among these students. This research may aid organizations, health care providers, and social workers in their attempts to prepare for and respond to pandemics.