Attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine: What do healthcare students think about the COVID-19 vaccine?

Abstract

Vaccination is the most effective method in preventing infections and decreasing infection-related morbidity and mortality. In this study, health students' attitudes and thoughts about COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated. The study was conducted between January 18 and February 1, 2021. Ethics committee approval was obtained before starting study. Students who accepted to participate in study were asked to fill in the interview form via google questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS 21 program, p <0.05 was considered significant. 637 of participants were women and mean age was 20.74±7.32 years. 13.78% of students reported that they had disease and 34.02% of them had a family history of the disease. 71.83% of students had confusion about vaccine, 37.44% stated that they trusted vaccine, and 48.29% reported that they thought it was effective. If vaccine will protect themselves, their family, and friends (86.70%); if vaccine will protect community (86.95%), and stated that they would be vaccinated if vaccine would bring the people back to normalization (88.90%). There were 346 (42.20%) students who wanted to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In the study, although students reported that they want to be vaccinated if COVID-19 vaccine will protect themselves, their family, friends and society, and return public to normalization; It was concluded that level of confidence in the vaccine and desire to be vaccinated were low. Multidisciplinary studies are needed to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates.