COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among undergraduate students in Thailand during the peak of the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic in 2021

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To determine the point prevalence of undergraduate students who are hesitant to accept COVID-19 vaccination and to identify the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in university students. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted during June–July 2021. A total of 542 undergraduate students from universities in three central provinces of Thailand participated in an online survey via Google Form. We used a transculturally translated, Thai version of the Oxford Coronavirus Explanations, Attitudes, and Narratives Survey (OCEANS II). Results There were 217 undergraduate students (40%) who were hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and the significant predictors for this hesitancy were: being students in Year 2 and higher (AOR: 2.73; 95% CI: 1.55–4.84); having negative beliefs toward the COVID-19 vaccine (AOR: 10.99; 95% CI: 6.82–17.73); and having a perceived positive general vaccine conspiracy belief (AOR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.02–3.52). Conclusions It is important to minimize vaccine hesitancy among Thai undergraduate students with a negative perception of vaccines by clarifying false information.