COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among undergraduate students in Thailand during the peak of the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic in 2021

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the point prevalence of undergraduate students who are hesitant to accept COVID-19 vaccination and to identify the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during June-July 2021. A total of 542 undergraduate students from universities in three central provinces of Thailand participated in an online survey via Google Form. We used a transculturally translated, Thai version of the Oxford Coronavirus Explanations, Attitudes, and Narratives Survey (OCEANS II). Results: There were 217 undergraduate students (40%) who were hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and the significant predictors for this hesitancy were: being students in Year 2 and higher (AOR: 2.73; 95% CI: 1.55-4.84); having negative beliefs toward the COVID-19 vaccine (AOR: 10.99; 95% CI: 6.82-17.73); and having a perceived positive general vaccine conspiracy belief (AOR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.02-3.52). Conclusions: It is important to minimize vaccine hesitancy among Thai undergraduate students with a negative perception of vaccines by clarifying false information.