Hesitancy Towards COVID-19 Vaccine Among Students of Medical and Allied Health Sciences in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Abstract

To measure COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors among medical and allied health sciences students of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This cross-sectional survey was conducted online using Google survey platform in March 2021. Study population comprised of medical and allied health sciences students studying in medical/allied health sciences academic institutes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The web-based online link was provided to around 800 students to fill in the questionnaire via email, WhatsApp and/or social media network. Response rate was around 50%. The main outcome variable was vaccine hesitancy. Factors associated with vaccine hesitancy were explored by bivariate and multivariate regression analysis. Out of 398 medical and allied health sciences students, there were 193 (48.5%) males and 205 (51.5%) females with mean age was 22.6± 2.8 years. The vaccine hesitancy rate was found to be 52.8%. A significant relationship between vaccine hesitancy and gender was observed. Other factors including lack of adequate knowledge about vaccines (p < 0.001), Chinese origin of vaccines (p < 0.001), lack of knowledge that vaccination can reduce the chances of acquiring infection (p < 0.001), fear of potential side effects (p < 0.001) and hidden agenda behind free forceful vaccination (p = 0.045), were found to be main barriers or reasons responsible for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among medical and allied health sciences students. Important associated barriers with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy included gender, lack of information, fear of side effects, lack of trust in imported and Chinese vaccines, and perception of hidden agenda behind COVID-19 vaccination.