Exploring predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among students, faculty, and staff at a Southeastern University in the United States

Objective: Explore predictors of early COVID-19 vaccine adoption on a university campus. Participants: Students, faculty, staff, and administration (N = 1,234) completed an online survey exploring COVID-19 vaccine-related experiences, perspectives, and knowledge, from September to October 2021. Methods: Based on vaccination status participants were identified as vaccine hesitant or early vaccine adopters. Binary logistic regression was used to examine association between independent variables and vaccine adoption status. Results: Democrats (OR = 4.3, p = <.001), participants without a positive COVID-19 test (OR = 2.5, p = <.001), noted seeing/hearing COVID-19 misinformation (OR = 1.8, p = 0.27), and reported trust in public health agencies (OR = 26.2, p = <.001) were more likely to be early COVID-19 vaccine adopters, compared to Republicans, those with a positive COVID-19 test, those who had not seen/heard COVID-19 misinformation, and those reporting distrust in public health agencies, respectively. Conclusion: Findings indicate that COVID-19 vaccine adoption is multifactorial. Future research should focus on vaccination status-related trust and health communication.