Prevalence and Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among
Czech University Students: National Cross-Sectional Study

J 2021

Prevalence and Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Czech University Students: National Cross-Sectional Study

RIAD, Abanoub, Andrea POKORNÁ, Natália ANTALOVÁ, Martin KROBOT, Nutsa ZVIADADZE et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Prevalence and Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Czech University Students: National Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

RIAD, Abanoub (818 Egypt, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Andrea POKORNÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Natália ANTALOVÁ (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution), Martin KROBOT (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Nutsa ZVIADADZE (268 Georgia, belonging to the institution), Iryna SERDIUK (804 Ukraine, belonging to the institution), Michal KOŠČÍK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Miloslav KLUGAR (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Vaccines, Basel, MDPI, 2021, 2076-393X

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30102 Immunology

Country of publisher

Switzerland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 4.961

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14110/21:00122168

Organization unit

Faculty of Medicine

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9090948

UT WoS

000702106500001

Keywords in English

COVID-19 vaccines; cross-sectional studies; Czech Republic; decision making; mass vaccination; university students; vaccine hesitancy

Abstract

V originále

Background: university students are believed to retain the highest levels of health literacy. They are perceived as the opinion leaders within their communities; therefore, their health-related beliefs and attitudes are deemed important for public health campaigns. This study aimed to investigate the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy drivers among university students in the Czech Republic. Methods: a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was carried out in the weeks before the unrestricted vaccine deployment to Czech adults. The questionnaire had 21 multiple-choice items stratified in 4 categories; demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related anamnesis and influenza vaccine experience, attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination, and the possible drivers of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy suggested by the WHO-SAGE. Results: out of the 1351 included students, 66.8% were females, 84.5% were Czech nationals, and 40.6% enrolled in healthcare programs. The overall COVID-19 vaccine acceptance level was 73.3%, 19.3% of participants were vaccine-resistant, and only 7.4% were vaccine-hesitant. Trust in the pharmaceutical industry, trust in healthcare providers, and perceived knowledge sufficiency predicted higher odds of vaccine acceptance. In contrast, media and social media, personal beliefs, immunity misconception, previous COVID-19 infection, and suspicions about novel vaccines and the local availability predicted higher odds of vaccine hesitancy. Conclusions: The findings of this study predict a fair probability to achieve community immunity (herd immunity) among the target population group. The primary prevention strategies in the Czech Republic need to be culturally sensitive and inclusive for foreign nationals. As one-quarter of the participating students are dependent on vaccine safety data, this study findings support the call for independent studies evaluating the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines.

Links

LTC20031, research and development project

Name: Towards an International Network for Evidence-based Research in Clinical Health Research in the Czech Republic

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, INTER-COST

MUNI/A/1608/2020, interní kód MU

Name: Prohlubování znalostí v oblasti zdravotních rizik a benefitů výživy, prostředí a životního stylu III

Investor: Masaryk University

MUNI/IGA/1543/2020, interní kód MU

Name: Evidence-based Practice of Healthcare Professionals and Students in the Czech Republic (Acronym: Evidence-Based Practice in Czechia)

Investor: Masaryk University

Citovat

RIAD, Abanoub, Andrea POKORNÁ, Natália ANTALOVÁ, Martin KROBOT, Nutsa ZVIADADZE, Iryna SERDIUK, Michal KOŠČÍK and Miloslav KLUGAR. Prevalence and Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Czech University Students: National Cross-Sectional Study. Vaccines. Basel: MDPI, 2021, vol. 9, No 9, p. 1-25. ISSN 2076-393X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9090948.

@article{1787839,
   author = {Riad, Abanoub and Pokorná, Andrea and Antalová, Natália and Krobot, Martin and Zviadadze, Nutsa and Serdiuk, Iryna and Koščík, Michal and Klugar, Miloslav},
   article_location = {Basel},
   article_number = {9},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9090948},
   keywords = {COVID-19 vaccines; cross-sectional studies; Czech Republic; decision making; mass vaccination; university students; vaccine hesitancy},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2076-393X},
   journal = {Vaccines},
   title = {Prevalence and Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Czech University Students: National Cross-Sectional Study},
   url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/9/948},
   volume = {9},
   year = {2021}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1787839
AU  - Riad, Abanoub - Pokorná, Andrea - Antalová, Natália - Krobot, Martin - Zviadadze, Nutsa - Serdiuk, Iryna - Koščík, Michal - Klugar, Miloslav
PY  - 2021
TI  - Prevalence and Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Czech University Students: National Cross-Sectional Study
JF  - Vaccines
VL  - 9
IS  - 9
SP  - 1-25
EP  - 1-25
PB  - MDPI
SN  - 2076393X
KW  - COVID-19 vaccines
KW  - cross-sectional studies
KW  - Czech Republic
KW  - decision making
KW  - mass vaccination
KW  - university students
KW  - vaccine hesitancy
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/9/948
N2  - Background: university students are believed to retain the highest levels of health literacy. They are perceived as the opinion leaders within their communities; therefore, their health-related beliefs and attitudes are deemed important for public health campaigns. This study aimed to investigate the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy drivers among university students in the Czech Republic. Methods: a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was carried out in the weeks before the unrestricted vaccine deployment to Czech adults. The questionnaire had 21 multiple-choice items stratified in 4 categories; demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related anamnesis and influenza vaccine experience, attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination, and the possible drivers of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy suggested by the WHO-SAGE. Results: out of the 1351 included students, 66.8% were females, 84.5% were Czech nationals, and 40.6% enrolled in healthcare programs. The overall COVID-19 vaccine acceptance level was 73.3%, 19.3% of participants were vaccine-resistant, and only 7.4% were vaccine-hesitant. Trust in the pharmaceutical industry, trust in healthcare providers, and perceived knowledge sufficiency predicted higher odds of vaccine acceptance. In contrast, media and social media, personal beliefs, immunity misconception, previous COVID-19 infection, and suspicions about novel vaccines and the local availability predicted higher odds of vaccine hesitancy. Conclusions: The findings of this study predict a fair probability to achieve community immunity (herd immunity) among the target population group. The primary prevention strategies in the Czech Republic need to be culturally sensitive and inclusive for foreign nationals. As one-quarter of the participating students are dependent on vaccine safety data, this study findings support the call for independent studies evaluating the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines.
ER  -

RIAD, Abanoub, Andrea POKORNÁ, Natália ANTALOVÁ, Martin KROBOT, Nutsa ZVIADADZE, Iryna SERDIUK, Michal KOŠČÍK and Miloslav KLUGAR. Prevalence and Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Czech University Students: National Cross-Sectional Study. \textit{Vaccines}. Basel: MDPI, 2021, vol.~9, No~9, p.~1-25. ISSN~2076-393X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9090948.

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