Abstract
BackgroundAlthough research has explored influenza vaccination uptake among medical and college students, there is a dearth of research in understanding influenza vaccination uptake and attitudes toward the vaccine among future public health practitioners. Undergraduate public health students represent future public health practitioners who may be a significant educational resource for health information, including the importance of vaccinations.MethodsThis cross-sectional study utilized survey data from 158 undergraduate public health students attending a large public university in Southern California. The survey assessed public health students’ attitudes and beliefs towards the seasonal influenza vaccine and seasonal vaccination rates among this population.ResultsOver 88% of respondents reported having been encouraged to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine, while only 43.0% reported receipt. Of the students who reported not receiving the vaccine, 49.4% believed it may give them the flu, 30.4% believed there may be dangerous side effects, and 28.9% believed they were not at risk for contracting the flu. Access to health care practitioners (OR: 3.947, 95% CI [1.308–11.906]) and social encouragement (OR: 3.139, 95% CI [1.447–6.811]) were significantly associated with receipt of the seasonal influenza vaccine.ConclusionAs public health program curriculum includes information about seasonal influenza vaccination and 68% of the sample were seniors soon to be exiting the program with an undergraduate degree in public health education, this low seasonal influenza vaccination rate is disturbing. This study may add to the body of data demonstrating how knowledge of the vaccine does not always guarantee vaccine uptake. Results of the current study suggest that it may be beneficial to provide additional information targeted to public health students, aimed at mediating safety concerns and increasing social pressure to assist in improving vaccine acceptance and rates in this population. Maximizing seasonal influenza vaccination uptake by addressing attitudes, barriers and misperceptions may not only improve vaccination rates among public health students, but also in communities served by these future public health practitioners.
Highlights
Research has explored influenza vaccination uptake among medical and college students, there is a dearth of research in understanding influenza vaccination uptake and attitudes toward the vaccine among future public health practitioners
The current study explored the seasonal influenza vaccination rate, attitudes and beliefs toward the seasonal influenza vaccine, and factors associated with vaccine uptake among undergraduate students majoring in public health
These low uptake results were concerning, considering 68% of the sample were seniors soon to be exiting the program with an undergraduate degree in public health education
Summary
Research has explored influenza vaccination uptake among medical and college students, there is a dearth of research in understanding influenza vaccination uptake and attitudes toward the vaccine among future public health practitioners. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine annual seasonal influenza vaccinations for all persons 6 months and older with vaccination of particular importance to vulnerable populations, including older adults, young children, pregnant women, and persons with chronic medical conditions, for whom influenza can cause serious illness or death [1, 2]. Despite these recommendations, US seasonal influenza vaccination rates remain low. To achieve the goal of improving influenza vaccination rates, it is critical for public health practitioners, including health educators, to be well informed of the benefits and importance of the influenza vaccine
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