COVID-19 booster vaccine attitudes and behaviors among university students and staff in the United States: The USC Trojan pandemic research Initiative

Although authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (BNT162b2 by BioNTech/Pfizer and mRNA-1273 by Moderna) significantly reduce morbidity and mortality, recent evidence suggests that immunity wanes over time, and that a booster dose could further reduce COVID-19 transmission and severe illness. However, rese...

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Main Authors: Ryan C. Lee, Howard Hu, Eric S. Kawaguchi, Andre E. Kim, Daniel W. Soto, Kush Shanker, Jeffrey D. Klausner, Sarah Van Orman, Jennifer B. Unger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-08-01
Series:Preventive Medicine Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335522001735
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author Ryan C. Lee
Howard Hu
Eric S. Kawaguchi
Andre E. Kim
Daniel W. Soto
Kush Shanker
Jeffrey D. Klausner
Sarah Van Orman
Jennifer B. Unger
author_facet Ryan C. Lee
Howard Hu
Eric S. Kawaguchi
Andre E. Kim
Daniel W. Soto
Kush Shanker
Jeffrey D. Klausner
Sarah Van Orman
Jennifer B. Unger
author_sort Ryan C. Lee
collection DOAJ
description Although authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (BNT162b2 by BioNTech/Pfizer and mRNA-1273 by Moderna) significantly reduce morbidity and mortality, recent evidence suggests that immunity wanes over time, and that a booster dose could further reduce COVID-19 transmission and severe illness. However, research examining attitudes on booster willingness in diverse populations is needed. This study examined COVID-19 booster vaccine attitudes and behaviors among university students and staff in the fall of 2021. In our sample, 96.2% of respondents indicated willingness to get a COVID-19 booster shot at least once per year. In both bivariate and multivariate analyses higher trust in science was associated with having higher odds of booster willingness. Those who identify as Black, on average, reported trusting science less than other racial/ethnic groups. Our findings demonstrate high willingness to receive a COVID-19 booster shot and highlight the importance of educational messages and initiatives that focus on building trust in science to increase willingness to get the COVID-19 booster. More research is needed to better understand the impact of cultural beliefs on booster willingness and vaccine hesitancy. This understanding will help determine what messages and populations to target to increase booster willingness in the future.
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spelling doaj.art-5d0e75423a55420eb088f55a1a01384b2022-12-22T03:42:43ZengElsevierPreventive Medicine Reports2211-33552022-08-0128101866COVID-19 booster vaccine attitudes and behaviors among university students and staff in the United States: The USC Trojan pandemic research InitiativeRyan C. Lee0Howard Hu1Eric S. Kawaguchi2Andre E. Kim3Daniel W. Soto4Kush Shanker5Jeffrey D. Klausner6Sarah Van Orman7Jennifer B. Unger8Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Corresponding author at: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USADepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USADepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USADepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USADepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USADepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USAFamily Medicine, Keck Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USADepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USAAlthough authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (BNT162b2 by BioNTech/Pfizer and mRNA-1273 by Moderna) significantly reduce morbidity and mortality, recent evidence suggests that immunity wanes over time, and that a booster dose could further reduce COVID-19 transmission and severe illness. However, research examining attitudes on booster willingness in diverse populations is needed. This study examined COVID-19 booster vaccine attitudes and behaviors among university students and staff in the fall of 2021. In our sample, 96.2% of respondents indicated willingness to get a COVID-19 booster shot at least once per year. In both bivariate and multivariate analyses higher trust in science was associated with having higher odds of booster willingness. Those who identify as Black, on average, reported trusting science less than other racial/ethnic groups. Our findings demonstrate high willingness to receive a COVID-19 booster shot and highlight the importance of educational messages and initiatives that focus on building trust in science to increase willingness to get the COVID-19 booster. More research is needed to better understand the impact of cultural beliefs on booster willingness and vaccine hesitancy. This understanding will help determine what messages and populations to target to increase booster willingness in the future.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335522001735COVID-19Vaccine hesitancyBooster Willingness
spellingShingle Ryan C. Lee
Howard Hu
Eric S. Kawaguchi
Andre E. Kim
Daniel W. Soto
Kush Shanker
Jeffrey D. Klausner
Sarah Van Orman
Jennifer B. Unger
COVID-19 booster vaccine attitudes and behaviors among university students and staff in the United States: The USC Trojan pandemic research Initiative
Preventive Medicine Reports
COVID-19
Vaccine hesitancy
Booster Willingness
title COVID-19 booster vaccine attitudes and behaviors among university students and staff in the United States: The USC Trojan pandemic research Initiative
title_full COVID-19 booster vaccine attitudes and behaviors among university students and staff in the United States: The USC Trojan pandemic research Initiative
title_fullStr COVID-19 booster vaccine attitudes and behaviors among university students and staff in the United States: The USC Trojan pandemic research Initiative
title_full_unstemmed COVID-19 booster vaccine attitudes and behaviors among university students and staff in the United States: The USC Trojan pandemic research Initiative
title_short COVID-19 booster vaccine attitudes and behaviors among university students and staff in the United States: The USC Trojan pandemic research Initiative
title_sort covid 19 booster vaccine attitudes and behaviors among university students and staff in the united states the usc trojan pandemic research initiative
topic COVID-19
Vaccine hesitancy
Booster Willingness
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335522001735
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