Medical Students and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: Attitude and Behaviors

Abstract

Since physicians play a key role in vaccination, the initial training of medical students (MS) should aim to help shape their attitude in this regard. The beginning of vaccination programs against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an excellent time to assess the attitudes held by both medical and non-medical students regarding vaccination. A 51- to 53-item questionnaire including the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale was administered to 1971 students (49.21% male; 34.86% MS); two career-related questions were also addressed to the MS. The majority of surveyed students indicated a desire to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, with more medical than non-medical students planning to get vaccinated (91.99% vs. 59.42%). The most common concern about SARS-CoV-2 infection was the risk of passing on the disease to elderly relatives. While conspiracy theories regarding the COVID-19 vaccine are less popular among MS, both groups indicated concerns that vaccines may cause autism is equally common (~5%). Further studies exploring social attitudes towards the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine are a necessary first step to optimizing vaccination programs and achieving herd immunity.

Attitude and Behaviors towards SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination among Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study from Poland

“…Higher willingness to vaccinate among doctors and medical students fits well with the vaccination schedule, as they belong to the group of the highest priority for vaccination in Poland [5,29]. That gives time for media campaigns that aim to convince the undecided groups until it is to be their turn.…”

“…In our previous study that was performed on medical and non-medical students, we applied the analogous questionnaire, which was available from 22 December 2020 to 25 December 2020 [5]. Of all the groups included in the two studies, medical students and doctors were the most comparable ones.…”

“…Our previous survey study performed on medical students has proven that the willingness to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 as soon as possible depends on several factors: fear of passing on the disease to relatives, fear of long-term side effects on a scale of 0-10, and the presence of the depression symptoms in the past week [5]. In the current study we hypothesize that: (1) healthcare workers present pro-vaccination behaviors and attitudes significantly more often than the control group, (2) depression, anxiety and stress level affect the willingness to be vaccinated in study participants.…”

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among undergraduate medical students: results from a nationwide survey in India

“…Adoption of vaccination practices by healthcare workers plays a key role in motivating the general population through setting of example. 8,24 Concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccine adverse events as a possible reason for hesitancy has been highlighted by most studies concerning both university students and general population. 8–12,17 Further, concerns regarding vaccine efficacy seen to play a role in adoption of the COVID-19 vaccine.…”

“…This is since acceptance of vaccine might be more among medical students as compared to non-medical students and general population. 24 It was also found that conspiracy theories don’t tend to affect medical students as compared to non-medical students. 24 On the other hand, a study conducted in Italy found no difference between hesitancy among medical and non-medical studnets.…”