COVID-19 Vaccination Perception and Acceptance Among Female Medical and Nursing Students at Al-Azhar University, Egypt

Abstract

Background There are still many concerns related to various types of COVID-19 vaccines, which may result in individuals’ hesitancy presenting a problem for public health authorities to achieve coverage for population immunity. As trustworthy health-care workers, medical and nursing students’ perception towards COVID-19 vaccines may greatly influence the future population’s uptake of vaccines; however, studies related to the vaccine acceptance rates among them are limited. Objective To identify the perception of medical and nursing students toward COVID-19 vaccines and the factors acting either as motivators or barriers to be vaccinated. Methods A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted on 500 undergraduate students aged ≥18 years from medical and nursing faculties. Data were collected via a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire that consisted of questions on general characteristics of the participants and source of information about the vaccine. Also, it includes items assessing the perception and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared, t -test and multiple logistic regressions were performed using SPSS version 22. Results Positive perception was detected among more than half of overall students. Although medical students had significant higher positive perception toward COVID-19 vaccines than nursing students (54.9% vs. 41.1%, p <0.05), they were more hesitant to get vaccinated than nursing students (25.7% vs. 19.6%, p >0.05). While, medical students had a higher intention to encourage family members or friends to get vaccinated than did nursing students (47.7% vs .43.8%, respectively) ( p >0:05). Furthermore, participants were more likely to accept vaccination if they reported higher levels of positive perception especially for vaccine safety and increasing recovery rate. Conclusion Academic medical and nursing leaders should consider female students’ vaccine concerns, and future efforts are needed to reduce their hesitancy and raise awareness about vaccinations that may eventually improve perception and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines.

A psychological insight of Moroccan adults’ immunisation behaviour towards emergency vaccines

“…These findings are coherent with previous studies. 32 , 33 , 34 One explanation for this might be the nature of their background, where a more clinical approach is required. Therefore, medical students would have the opportunity to acquire greater insight, and have a greater sense of responsibility for themselves and for others.…”

COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake, Acceptance, and Reason for Vaccine Hesitancy: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Pregnant Women in Trinidad, West Indies [Letter]

“…Another reason is because of the many types of Covid-19 vaccines circulating from several companies, giving rise to doubts about the effectiveness of each of these vaccines. 3 In addition, trust in vaccines is also very dependent on feelings of trust in governments, health professionals, scientific authorities, and strong scientific data. 2 …”

“…Another reason is because of the many types of Covid-19 vaccines circulating from several companies, giving rise to doubts about the effectiveness of each of these vaccines. 3 In addition, trust in vaccines is also very dependent on feelings of trust in governments, health professionals, scientific authorities, and strong scientific data. 2 The study conducted by Shane Khan et al was a cross-sectional study in which participants had to complete an adapted WHO questionnaire on reasons for hesitancy of the COVID-19 vaccine.…”

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