Attitudes of University Students towards Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Rome, Italy
Mandatory vaccination (MV) against COVID-19 is a contentious topic. In this study, we used logistic regression models to identify attitudes among Sapienza University students towards MV for COVID-19. We considered three different scenarios: mandatory COVID-19 vaccination (MCV) for healthcare workers...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/4/721 |
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| author | Antonio Sciurti Valentina Baccolini Erika Renzi Maria Roberta De Blasiis Leonardo Maria Siena Claudia Isonne Giuseppe Migliara Azzurra Massimi Corrado De Vito Carolina Marzuillo Paolo Villari |
| author_facet | Antonio Sciurti Valentina Baccolini Erika Renzi Maria Roberta De Blasiis Leonardo Maria Siena Claudia Isonne Giuseppe Migliara Azzurra Massimi Corrado De Vito Carolina Marzuillo Paolo Villari |
| author_sort | Antonio Sciurti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mandatory vaccination (MV) against COVID-19 is a contentious topic. In this study, we used logistic regression models to identify attitudes among Sapienza University students towards MV for COVID-19. We considered three different scenarios: mandatory COVID-19 vaccination (MCV) for healthcare workers (HCWs) (Model 1), for all people aged ≥ 12 years (Model 2), and for admission to schools and universities (Model 3). We collected 5287 questionnaires over a six-month period and divided these into three groups (September–October 2021, November–December 2021, and January–February 2022). MCV for HCWs was the most strongly supported policy (69.8% in favour), followed by MCV for admission to schools and universities (58.3%), and MCV for the general population (54.6%). In a multivariable analysis, the models showed both similarities and differences. There was no association of socio-demographic characteristics with the outcomes, apart from being enrolled in non-healthcare courses, which negatively affected Models 2 and 3. A greater COVID-19 risk perception was generally associated with a more positive attitude towards MCV, although heterogeneously across models. Vaccination status was a predictor of being in favour of MCV for HCWs, whereas being surveyed in November–February 2022 favoured MCV for admission to schools and universities. Attitudes towards MCV were variable across policies; thus, to avoid unintended consequences, these aspects should be carefully considered by policymakers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:28:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8787227c6d4849929463ab22a42b373e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:28:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-8787227c6d4849929463ab22a42b373e2023-11-17T21:40:48ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2023-03-0111472110.3390/vaccines11040721Attitudes of University Students towards Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Rome, ItalyAntonio Sciurti0Valentina Baccolini1Erika Renzi2Maria Roberta De Blasiis3Leonardo Maria Siena4Claudia Isonne5Giuseppe Migliara6Azzurra Massimi7Corrado De Vito8Carolina Marzuillo9Paolo Villari10Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyMandatory vaccination (MV) against COVID-19 is a contentious topic. In this study, we used logistic regression models to identify attitudes among Sapienza University students towards MV for COVID-19. We considered three different scenarios: mandatory COVID-19 vaccination (MCV) for healthcare workers (HCWs) (Model 1), for all people aged ≥ 12 years (Model 2), and for admission to schools and universities (Model 3). We collected 5287 questionnaires over a six-month period and divided these into three groups (September–October 2021, November–December 2021, and January–February 2022). MCV for HCWs was the most strongly supported policy (69.8% in favour), followed by MCV for admission to schools and universities (58.3%), and MCV for the general population (54.6%). In a multivariable analysis, the models showed both similarities and differences. There was no association of socio-demographic characteristics with the outcomes, apart from being enrolled in non-healthcare courses, which negatively affected Models 2 and 3. A greater COVID-19 risk perception was generally associated with a more positive attitude towards MCV, although heterogeneously across models. Vaccination status was a predictor of being in favour of MCV for HCWs, whereas being surveyed in November–February 2022 favoured MCV for admission to schools and universities. Attitudes towards MCV were variable across policies; thus, to avoid unintended consequences, these aspects should be carefully considered by policymakers.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/4/721vaccinesvaccinationCOVID-19mandatory vaccination |
| spellingShingle | Antonio Sciurti Valentina Baccolini Erika Renzi Maria Roberta De Blasiis Leonardo Maria Siena Claudia Isonne Giuseppe Migliara Azzurra Massimi Corrado De Vito Carolina Marzuillo Paolo Villari Attitudes of University Students towards Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Rome, Italy Vaccines vaccines vaccination COVID-19 mandatory vaccination |
| title | Attitudes of University Students towards Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Rome, Italy |
| title_full | Attitudes of University Students towards Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Rome, Italy |
| title_fullStr | Attitudes of University Students towards Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Rome, Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attitudes of University Students towards Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Rome, Italy |
| title_short | Attitudes of University Students towards Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Rome, Italy |
| title_sort | attitudes of university students towards mandatory covid 19 vaccination policies a cross sectional survey in rome italy |
| topic | vaccines vaccination COVID-19 mandatory vaccination |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/4/721 |
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