AUTHOR=Jain Lovely , Vij Jatina , Satapathy Prakasini , Chakrapani Venkatesan , Patro Binod , Kar Sitanshu Sekhar , Singh Ritesh , Pala Star , Sankhe Lalit , Modi Bhavesh , Bali Surya , Rustagi Neeti , Rajagopal Vineeth , Kiran Tanvi , Goel Kapil , Aggarwal Arun Kumar , Gupta Madhu , Padhi Bijaya Kumar 

TITLE=Factors Influencing COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions Among College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in India

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.735902

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2021.735902

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Background 
Students are likely to be exposed to COVID-19 due to their mobility behavior, and especially those working in healthcare sectors. The study aimed to understand their knowledge about COVID-19 and intentions to use the COVID-19 vaccine. 
Methods 
An online cross-sectional survey was carried out among students in healthcare and non-healthcare sectors to assess their intention to uptake the COVID-19 vaccine, and its associated factors. The study used a non-probability snowball sampling technique to recruit the study participants (N=655) through social media platforms and emails. Study participants were recruited across the country, including six major geographical regions in India between November 2020- January 2021 before the introduction of COVID-19 vaccine.  Descriptive Statistics was used to present the socio-demographic, and vaccine related behaviors of the study participants. Key determinants that predict vaccine acceptance among students were modelled using logistic regression analysis. For each analysis, p < 0.05) was considered significant.
Results
A total of 655 students recruited, 323 from healthcare and 332 from non-healthcare sectors to assess their intention to uptake the COVID-19 vaccine. Of the 655 students, 63.8% expressed positive intention to uptake the vaccine. The acceptance was higher among non-healthcare students (54.07% vs 45.93%). At the time of the study 27.8% students exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 patient. 93.4% of the students had knowledge about the COVID-19 virus, and most (89.31%) of them were aware about the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. Only (33.44%) student showed concern to get infected with COVID-19 infection. Trust in the healthcare system [aOR: 4.138; 95% CI: 2.831-6.049] and trust in the domestic vaccine [aOR: 1.460; (95% CI: 1.022-2.086), p=0.038] emerged as the significant predictors of intention to uptake the vaccine among students. Students in non-healthcare sector were more willing to uptake the vaccine when available [aOR: 1.982; 95% CI: 1.334-2.946, p=0.001].
Conclusion
These findings show that Indian students had positive attitudes towards the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine, although a significant minority were not sure or unwilling to take vaccine. The lower risk perception for COVID-19 infection among students at that time could be a reason for vaccine hesitancy.