Attitudes and concerns of nursing students against the COVID-19 vaccine,
willingness to be vaccinated: A cross-sectional study
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 vaccine acceptance by the nurses of the future is
important to increase the population immunity. Aim: This study aimed to
determine the attitudes and concerns of nursing students towards the
coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, their willingness to be
vaccinated, and the factors affecting their willingness in the second
wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This cross-sectional study was
conducted between February 1, 2021, to March 30, 2021, using an online
questionnaire in 498 nursing students in Turkey. Results: While 64.5%
of nursing students had the intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19,
35.5% had no intention to be vaccinated (29.3% hesitant and 6.2%
unwilling). Students expressed their attitudes and concerns on the lack
of COVID-19 vaccine information (65.7%), its effectiveness (41.6%),
safety (45.8%), and side effects (50.8%). Students did not intend to
be vaccinated due to insufficient trust in the vaccine effectiveness
(84%), the continuous COVID-19 mutation, vaccines side effects
(68.9%), and not trusting the supplied vaccine (55.4%). Students’ high
education level, high family income perception, previous vaccine
rejection, family members with COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 information
from official institutions, trusting health professionals’ COVID-19
explanations, and attitudes and concerns toward vaccines for their
intention to be vaccinated are the affecting factors (p <
0.05). Conclusions: Nursing students are known to be future healthcare
professionals and play a decisive role in counseling individuals in the
community on the risks of COVID-19 and the benefits of the vaccine.
Therefore, focusing on training that is aimed at increasing vaccine
knowledge, eliminating their negative attitudes and concerns, and
building confidence in vaccines is necessary.