Intentions to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine Among University Students

Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is an infectious respiratory disease that has caused a global pandemic beginning in March of 2020 (CDC, 2020). Without a known cure for this new illness, major events have been canceled or rescheduled to avoid mass exposure. This includes college universities moving their classes to an online format, drastically impacting the students' learning experience. Without a vaccine or control of the virus, there is no foreseeable future with in-person classes or college events. With COVID-19 having such a large impact on college campuses in 2020, this study explored variables that impact college students' intentions to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as multiple on-going clinical trials exist to develop a vaccination. This study examined the variables of political party affiliation, interest in universal healthcare, receiving the flu shot last year, perceived susceptibility, and tobacco use. Data collection occurred by an online survey sent to all students in a James Madison University (JMU) Health Research Methods class. Analysis of survey results indicated a relationship existed between COVID-19 vaccine intentions and the variables of political party affiliation and receiving the flu shot last year. From this analysis, it was concluded that those who are registered as Democratic or liberal and those who received a flu shot are more likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Results from this study are vital for public health officials to target the college population in order to achieve herd immunity for COVID-19 once a vaccine becomes available.

Content

Author and article information

Journal

Title: ScienceOpen Preprints

Publisher: ScienceOpen

Publication date (Electronic preprint): 21 June 2022

Affiliations

[1 ] James Madison University

[2 ] James Madison Univeristy

Author notes

[* ]Email: ryancshelton23@ 123456gmail.com .

Author information

Ryan Shelton https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5355-2974

Article

DOI: 10.14293/S2199-1006.1.SOR-.PPIFEX8.v1

SO-VID: 4f876365-bc5c-4894-b2d7-6ef472969128

License:

This work has been published open access under Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0 , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Conditions, terms of use and publishing policy can be found at www.scienceopen.com .

History

Date received : 21 June 2022

Data availability: All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information files).

ScienceOpen disciplines: Health & Social care,Infectious disease & Microbiology

Keywords: COVID-19,Health Behaviors,University Students,Vaccine Intentions

References

Subbarao NageshTumkur, Akhilesh A. Knowledge and attitude about sexually transmitted infections other than HIV among college students. Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS. Vol. 38(1)2017. Medknow. [Cross Ref]
Ratnapradipa Kendra L., Norrenberns Ryan, Turner J. Austin, Kunerth Allison. Freshman Flu Vaccination Behavior and Intention During a Nonpandemic Season. Health Promotion Practice. Vol. 18(5):662–671. 2017. SAGE Publications. [Cross Ref]
Ramsey Meagan A., Marczinski Cecile A.. College students’ perceptions of H1N1 flu risk and attitudes toward vaccination. Vaccine. Vol. 29(44):7599–7601. 2011. Elsevier BV. [Cross Ref]
Pabayo Roman, Kawachi Ichiro, Muennig Peter. Political party affiliation, political ideology and mortality. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Vol. 69(5):423–431. 2015. BMJ. [Cross Ref]
Murphy-Hoefer Rebecca, Alder Stephen, Higbee Cheryl. Perceptions about cigarette smoking and risks among college students. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. Vol. 6(6):371–374. 2004. Oxford University Press (OUP). [Cross Ref]
Kowitt Sarah D., Cornacchione Ross Jennifer, Jarman Kristen L., Kistler Christine E., Lazard Allison J., Ranney Leah M., Sheeran Paschal, Thrasher James F., Goldstein Adam O.. Tobacco Quit Intentions and Behaviors among Cigar Smokers in the United States in Response to COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Vol. 17(15)2020. MDPI AG. [Cross Ref]
Kannan Viji Diane, Veazie Peter J.. Political orientation, political environment, and health behaviors in the United States. Preventive Medicine. Vol. 114:95–101. 2018. Elsevier BV. [Cross Ref]
Buckman Cierra, Liu Indran C., Cortright Lindsay, Tumin Dmitry, Syed Salma. The influence of local political trends on childhood vaccine completion in North Carolina. Social Science & Medicine. Vol. 260:2020. Elsevier BV. [Cross Ref]

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Subbarao NageshTumkur, Akhilesh A. Knowledge and attitude about sexually transmitted infections other than HIV among college students. Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS. Vol. 38(1)2017. Medknow. [Cross Ref]

[2] Ratnapradipa Kendra L., Norrenberns Ryan, Turner J. Austin, Kunerth Allison. Freshman Flu Vaccination Behavior and Intention During a Nonpandemic Season. Health Promotion Practice. Vol. 18(5):662–671. 2017. SAGE Publications. [Cross Ref]

[3] Ramsey Meagan A., Marczinski Cecile A.. College students’ perceptions of H1N1 flu risk and attitudes toward vaccination. Vaccine. Vol. 29(44):7599–7601. 2011. Elsevier BV. [Cross Ref]

[4] Pabayo Roman, Kawachi Ichiro, Muennig Peter. Political party affiliation, political ideology and mortality. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Vol. 69(5):423–431. 2015. BMJ. [Cross Ref]

[5] Murphy-Hoefer Rebecca, Alder Stephen, Higbee Cheryl. Perceptions about cigarette smoking and risks among college students. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. Vol. 6(6):371–374. 2004. Oxford University Press (OUP). [Cross Ref]

[6] Kowitt Sarah D., Cornacchione Ross Jennifer, Jarman Kristen L., Kistler Christine E., Lazard Allison J., Ranney Leah M., Sheeran Paschal, Thrasher James F., Goldstein Adam O.. Tobacco Quit Intentions and Behaviors among Cigar Smokers in the United States in Response to COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Vol. 17(15)2020. MDPI AG. [Cross Ref]

[7] Kannan Viji Diane, Veazie Peter J.. Political orientation, political environment, and health behaviors in the United States. Preventive Medicine. Vol. 114:95–101. 2018. Elsevier BV. [Cross Ref]

[8] Buckman Cierra, Liu Indran C., Cortright Lindsay, Tumin Dmitry, Syed Salma. The influence of local political trends on childhood vaccine completion in North Carolina. Social Science & Medicine. Vol. 260:2020. Elsevier BV. [Cross Ref]