COVID-19 vaccination and potential predictors for vaccination among students in Bulgarian medical universities

Abstract

University students, especially those in healthcare sciences, are of particular importance in COVID-19 vaccine views since their future careers will allow them to educate citizens regarding vaccination. The study examined COVID-19 immunisation coverage, behaviours, and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccines among students in Bulgarian medical universities. A prospective cross-sectional study was undertaken in September 2021- January 2022. Demographics, university programme, year of study, general vaccine attitudes and behaviour, and personal experience with COVID-19 and vaccines were collected. The chi-square test was used to test for associations and binominal logistic regression to identify possible predictors for vaccination. A total of 3050 students with a median age of 22 years, predominantly female participated. Three-quarters of the students (73.5%) have been vaccinated against COVID-19. An association was found between COVID-19 vaccination and influenza vaccination in the previous season (χ² = 67.15, p < 0.001) as well as the intention to receive the flu vaccine in the current season (χ² = 142.83, p < 0.001). Vaccine hesitation mainly stemmed from fear of side effects and safety concerns, but non-vaccinated students voiced them more often. Respondents who were less likely to be vaccinated considered themselves to have: (a) limited access to sufficient information to allow them to make an informed decision to vaccinate against COVID-19; (b) lack of public awareness and education campaigns about COVID-19 vaccines; (c) insufficient information about COVID-19 vaccines during university education that would allow them to make an informed decision to vaccinate; and (d) had a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Informational initiatives that emphasise vaccine safety will boost COVID-19 immunisation coverage.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• vaccines
• hesitancy
• attitudes
• medical students
• healthcare workers

Author contributions

Conceptualization, VR and AK; methodology, VR, MB, and NI; software, RR; validation, VR, RR, MB, and AK; formal analysis, VR; investigation, VR, TP, and MK; resources, VR, TP, and MK; data curation, SS and NP; writing—original draft preparation, VR; writing—review and editing, VR, RR, AK, and NI; visualization, VR; supervision, RR and AK; project administration, VR. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Institutional Review Board statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria (R651-2022/01/Dec/2022).

Consent form

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors reported no potential conflicts of interest.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, V.R., upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.