Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions among University Students.

Roberta Pastorino,Leonardo Villani,Walter Ricciardi,Stefania Boccia,Marco Mariani,Guendalina Graffigna

doi:10.3390/vaccines9020070

Roberta Pastorino, Leonardo Villani + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9020070

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Abstract

Flu vaccination for the general population, and specifically for vulnerable subgroups, brings the potential to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of mobility, mortality, and hospitalizations. In Italy, flu vaccination is recommended to all ≥6 months of age, even if it is only free of charge for specific categories. We investigated the intentions towards flu and COVID-19 vaccinations from a sample of 436 Italian university students. Results of a web-based survey show that 77.52% of them were willing to get the flu vaccine and 94.73% were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 when available. We identified positive predictive factors to undertake flu vaccination as being a medical student, having undertaken a previous vaccination against flu, and having a high level of concern and perceived vulnerability to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reinforced public health activities might consider engaging university students a as possible “positive influencer” towards flu and COVID-19 vaccination programs.

Highlights

Flu vaccination represents one of the most effective strategies in order to reduce the healthcare, social, and economic impact of influenza [1]
We aimed to investigate the intentions of Italian university students regarding flu and COVID-19 vaccinations in the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the potential impact of concerns and perceptions about the COVID-19 pandemic on such intentions
A minority of students (N = 81, 18.58%) reported being afraid about possible adverse COVID-19 vaccine reactions, the majority (N = 413, 94.73%) were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 when available

Summary

Introduction

Flu vaccination represents one of the most effective strategies in order to reduce the healthcare, social, and economic impact of influenza [1]. Since influenza and COVID-19 share similar symptomatology, especially in the first phase of the disease, a differential diagnosis between them will require tests, hospitalizations, and quarantine of symptomatic persons before obtaining the test results that could saturate the healthcare system capacity [4] For this reason, there is an urgent need to implement flu vaccination for the target population [5]. Over the last decades, opposition to vaccination has been amplified, and the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy has arisen This phenomenon is defined as a set of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors (alone or in combination), exhibited by common people and, in some cases, by healthcare professionals, in regard to their own or their children’s immunizations, causing a decrease of vaccine coverage and an increased risk of preventable disease epidemics [8]. A special category of the young population is made up of university students, who are usually open-minded and capable to respond faster to public health issues [11]

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