Universa Medicina
Vol. 41 No. 3 (2022)

Attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination, vaccine hesitancy and vaccine literacy among unvaccinated young adults:

Gulay YILMAZEL (Hitit University, Faculty of Health Science, Corum, Turkey)
Emre KELES (Hitit University, Faculty of Health Science, Corum, Turkey)
Ayse CALMAZ (Hitit University, Iskilip Vocational High School, Corum, Turkey)
Burcu DAYSAL GULER (Hitit University, Alaca Avni Çelik Vocational High School, Corum, Turkey)



Article Info

Publish Date
13 Oct 2022

Abstract

BackgroundHerd immunity is necessary to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Unfortunately, attaining herd immunity is a significant challenge for current healthcare systems worldwide, and the prevalence of hesitancy toward COVID-19 remains high. The aim of this study was to determine pandemic vaccine hesitancy, attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine literacy level in vaccination period among unvaccinated young adults. MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out in the province of Çorum in Turkey. Unvaccinated young adults (n=860) between the ages of 18-30 studying medicine and non-medical sciences of a university were included in the study. Socio-demographic form, and the scales on Pandemic Vaccine Hesitancy, Attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine literacy were used to collect the research data. The data were analyzed using percentages, median values, regression analysis. Results The study was completed with 860 participants. In the group, 73.8% were 18-24 years 67.7% were women and 68.0% were infected with the virus. The median scores from the pandemic vaccine hesitancy scale, vaccine literacy and vaccine attitudes were 33, 27 and 30 respectively. Use of social media in daily, vaccine literacy and COVID-19 vaccine attitude were effective factors on pandemic vaccine hesitancy (p<0.05). Negative attitude to vaccines was the most influenced risk factor of vaccine hesitancy (Beta = 0.248). ConclusionPandemic vaccine hesitancy is a phenomenon that coincides with low vaccine literacy and negative attitudes towards vaccines. COVID-19 vaccination information campaigns should promote group strategies, focusing on emphasising the safety of the vaccine and offer reassurance.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

medicina

Publisher

Subject

Health Professions Immunology & microbiology Medicine & Pharmacology Public Health

Description

Universa Medicina (univ.med) is a four-monthly medical journal that publishes new research findings on a wide variety of topics of importance to biomedical science and clinical practice. Universa Medicina Online contains both the current issue and an online archive that can be accessed through ...