VACCINE HESITANCY: ATTITUDE TOWARDS COVID-19 VACCINE AMONGST UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA.

Abstract

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized vaccine hesitancy as one of the top ten threats to global health. In addition, experts around the world have noted an increased propensity towards negative vaccination attitudes over the years. As medical students are future health care providers, it is important to identify their stance on vaccinations and to shape their attitudes in that regard. An anonymous 14- Methods: item online Google Forum questionnaire was administered to third to sixth year undergraduate medical students at UNAM. The study period ran from 04/09/21-23/09/21. The study received 89 responses out of an anticipated 163. Majority of st Results: udents (74%) were already vaccinated, 8% expressed a desire to get vaccinated and 18% were not intending to get vaccinated. The most common reason (69%) for vaccine hesitancy was uncertainty about vaccine safety and associated side effects. On the other hand, fear of contracting the virus and infecting friends/family and the belief that getting vaccinated is one way to reach an end to the pandemic were amongst the most important factors inuencing pro-vaccination behaviours. Lastly, the study had no sufcient evidence to reject the null hypothesis: H0: Medical students are proCovid-19-vaccination. Conclusion: Amongst the study population, majority had already been vaccinated. The fear of contracting the virus and subsequently infecting loved ones was one the main factors responsible for this pro-vaccination attitudes. On the other hand, one of the major factors which contributed to hesitancy were concerns about vaccine safety and uncertainty about possible side effects. As a result, specic measures aimed at providing adequate evidence-based information regarding the safety and efcacy of the vaccine should be put in place.