Low uptake of influenza vaccine among university students: evaluating predictors beyond cost and safety concerns.
BACKGROUND
Annual influenza vaccine coverage for young adults (including college students) remains low, despite a 2011 US recommendation for annual immunization of all people 6 months and older. College students are at high risk for influenza morbidity given close living and social spaces and extended travel during semester breaks when influenza circulation typically increases. We evaluated influenza vaccine uptake following an on-campus vaccine campaign at a large, public New York State university.


METHODS
Consecutive students visiting the University Health Center were recruited for a self-administered, anonymous, written survey. Students were asked about recent influenza vaccination, barriers to influenza vaccination, and willingness to get vaccinated to protect other vulnerable individuals they may encounter. Frequencies and proportions were evaluated.


RESULTS
Of 653 students approached, 600 completed surveys (92% response proportion); respondents were primarily female (61%) and non-Hispanic white (59%). Influenza vaccine coverage was low (28%). Compared to coverage among non-Hispanic white students (30%), coverage was similar among Hispanic (30%) and other race/ethnicity students (28%) and lowest among non-Hispanic black students (17%). Among the unvaccinated, the most commonly selected vaccination barriers were "Too lazy to get the vaccine" (32%) and "Don't need the vaccine because I'm healthy" (29%); 6% of unvaccinated students cited cost as a barrier. After being informed that influenza vaccination of young, healthy people can protect other vulnerable individuals (e.g., infants, elderly), 71% of unvaccinated students indicated this would increase their willingness to get vaccinated.


CONCLUSIONS
Influenza vaccine uptake among college students is very low. While making vaccine easily obtained may increase vaccine uptake, college students need to be motivated to get vaccinated. Typically healthy students may not perceive a need for influenza vaccine. Education about vaccinating healthy individuals to prevent the spread of influenza to close contacts, such as vulnerable family members, may provide this motivation to get vaccinated.
Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, CNR-7019, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta GA 30322 USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer NY 12144 USA. Electronic address: rbednar@emory.edu.
Robert A
RA
Bednarczyk
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer NY 12144 USA.
Samantha L
SL
Chu
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer NY 12144 USA.
Heather
H
Sickler
Pediatric Infectious Diseases, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, NY 13201 USA.
Jana
J
Shaw
Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, State University of New York, 5 University Place, Rensselaer NY 12144 USA.
Jessica A
JA
Nadeau
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer NY 12144 USA; Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, State University of New York, 5 University Place, Rensselaer NY 12144 USA.
Louise-Anne
LA
McNutt
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009518:New York; D012449:Safety; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
D007252:Influenza Vaccines
Influenza; Influenza vaccine; Student; University; Vaccines