Anxiety, Optimism, and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Students in a University in Southern Thailand during the 2021 Academic Year.

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors, including anxiety and optimism, surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic among Thai university students. An online observational cross-sectional study was conducted between November and December 2021. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression were performed using R. In total, 409 university students participated in the study. Most reported high anxiety levels (69.4%), while more than half also expressed high levels of optimism associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (51.1%). Only 4.4% were unvaccinated, among whom 50% were hesitant to receive vaccination (2.2%). Per statistical analysis, those who perceived the available vaccines as low safety were significantly associated with a higher risk of vaccine hesitancy (p = 0.03). In contrast, those who reported that they would likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if recommended to by their doctors or pharmacists were significantly associated with lower vaccine hesitancy (p = 0.048). However, both anxiety and optimism regarding the COVID-19 pandemic were not associated with vaccine hesitancy. Thus, healthcare workers play an important role in COVID-19 vaccination counseling to prevent transmission. Health education during the pandemic should focus on COVID-19 infection as well as COVID-19 vaccines, including their safety and their adverse effects.