Past and Future Influenza Vaccine Uptake Motivation: A Cross-Sectional Analysis among Italian Health Sciences Students

Despite its effectiveness in the prevention of seasonal flu, influenza vaccination uptake remains low, even among healthcare workers (HCWs), despite their occupational risk. The aim of this study was to explore the association between main reasons for accepting or refusing influenza vaccination and the decision to receive the vaccination during both previous and following year among health sciences students. A multi-center, cross-sectional study was performed using a validated online questionnaire. Data were analyzed by performing univariable and multivariable logistic analysis. Data from over 3000 participants showed that avoiding the spread of infection to family members and the general population (aOR: 43.55), as well as to patients (aOR: 16.56) were the main reasons associated with the highest probability of taking the influenza vaccination the following year. On the contrary, not considering influenza as a severe disease was the reason associated with the lowest probability for past (aOR: 0.17) and future vaccination (aOR: 0.01). Therefore, the importance of vaccination to protect others should always be the core of vaccination campaigns for health sciences students, together with tools to increase their awareness of the severity of this disease.

Automated summary

Despite low uptake, this study found that health sciences students were more likely to receive influenza vaccination if their main reason was to avoid spreading the infection to others. On the other hand, those who did not consider influenza as a severe disease were least likely to get vaccinated. Therefore, vaccination campaigns for health sciences students should emphasize the importance of protecting others and increase awareness of the severity of influenza.