COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy, Protective Behaviors, and Risk Perception among University Students in Alexandria

Abd El Hakim Abdou, Rasha; Samir Abou Donia, Ahmed; Mohammed Saad Khaled, Asmaa

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2021.195790

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy, Protective Behaviors, and Risk Perception among University Students in Alexandria

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor Community Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University

² Assistant Professor Home Economics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University

³ Lecturer Community Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University

10.21608/ejhc.2021.195790

Abstract

Background: Quick vaccine rollouts and compliance with preventive strategies are crucial for a
country recovery from COVID-19, but vaccine hesitancy could prolong the pandemic and the need
for physical distancing and lockdowns. Aim of the study: was to assess the levels of COVID-19
vaccine hesitancy, protective behaviors and risk perception among university students in
Alexandria. Study design: An online cross-sectional exploratory survey research design was used
in this study. Setting: This study was conducted in all faculties affiliated to Alexandria University.
Subjects: Convenient sample of 1000 university students were selected by equal allocation method.
Tools of data collection: Three tools were used for data collection. The first tool was “Vaccine
Hesitancy Scale” to assess the students’ hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines. The second tool was
“The Protective behavior against COVID-19 Scale” to measure the protective behaviors against
COVID-19. While, the third tool was “Risk Perception Scale” to measure the public risk perception
for public health emergencies. Results: The results of this study showed that more than one quarter
of them had a high level of vaccine hesitancy, while less than half of them had a good level of
protective behaviors against COVID 19. On the other hand, less than one quarter of the studied
students had high level of risk perception. Conclusion: The study concluded that university
students, are among the population at risk of being infected with COVID‐19 and transmitting the
infection to others owing to the sense of invulnerability and their poor compliance with protective
behaviors, including administration of vaccination against Covid-19. Recommendations: It is
essential to raise awareness among university students about Covid-19 to change negative vaccine
attitudes and increase the acceptance and uptake of Covid-19 vaccines

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