Affiliations 

  • 1 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
  • 2 Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria
  • 3 School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
  • 4 Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Bayero University Kano, Kano, Nigeria
  • 5 Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa, Nigeria
  • 6 Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
  • 7 Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria
  • 8 Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
  • 9 Department of Pharmaceutics and PharmaceuticalTechnology, Bayero University Kano, Kano, Nigeria
  • 10 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
  • 11 School of Dental Health Sciences, Shehu Idris Institute of Health Sciences and Technology, Kaduna State University, Makarfi, Kaduna, Nigeria
  • 12 Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria
PLoS One, 2021;16(11):e0260672.
PMID: 34843594 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260672

Abstract

Students of the health sciences are the future frontliners to fight pandemics. The students' participation in COVID-19 response varies across countries and are mostly for educational purposes. Understanding the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptability is necessary for a successful vaccination program. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among health sciences students in Northwest Nigeria. The study was an online self-administered cross-sectional study involving a survey among students of health sciences in some selected universities in Northwest Nigeria. The survey collected pertinent data from the students, including socio-demographic characteristics, risk perception for COVID-19, and willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. A total of 440 responses with a median (interquartile range) age of 23 (4.0) years were included in the study. The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was 40.0%. Factors that independently predict acceptance of the vaccine were age of 25 years and above (adjusted odds ratio, aOR, 2.72; 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.44-5.16; p = 0.002), instructions from heads of institutions (aOR, 11.71; 95% CI, 5.91-23.20; p<0.001), trust in the government (aOR, 20.52; 95% CI, 8.18-51.51; p<0.001) and willingness to pay for the vaccine (aOR, 7.92; 95% CI, 2.63-23.85; p<0.001). The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among students of health sciences was low. Older age, mandate by heads of the institution, trust in the government and readiness to pay for the vaccine were associated with acceptance of the vaccine. Therefore, stakeholders should prioritize strategies that would maximize the vaccination uptake.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.