Attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination, vaccine hesitancy and vaccine literacy among unvaccinated young adults

BACKGROUND Herd immunity is necessary to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Unfortunately, attaining herd immunity is a significant challenge for current healthcare systems worldwide, and the prevalence of hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccination remains high. The aim of this study was to determine pandemic vaccine hesitancy, attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination, and COVID-19 vaccine literacy level among unvaccinated young adults. METHODS This cross-sectional study was carried out in the province of Corum in Turkey. Unvaccinated young adults (n=860) between the ages of 18-30 years studying medicine and non- medical sciences at a university were included in the study. Socio-demographic form, and the scales on pandemic vaccine hesitancy, attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine, and COVID-19 vaccine literacy were used to collect the research data. The data were analyzed using percentages, median values, and multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS The study was completed with 860 participants. In the group, 73.8% of participants were 18-24 years old, 67.7% were women and 68.0% were infected with the virus. The median scores from the pandemic vaccine hesitancy scale, vaccine literacy and vaccine attitudes were 33, 27 and 30 respectively. Use of social media per day, vaccine literacy and COVID-19 vaccine attitude were effective factors on pandemic vaccine hesitancy (p<0.05). Negative attitude to vaccines was the most influential risk factor of vaccine hesitancy (Beta = 0.248). CONCLUSION Pandemic vaccine hesitancy coincides with low vaccine literacy and negative attitudes towards vaccines. COVID-19 vaccination information campaigns should promote group strategies, focusing on emphasising the safety of the vaccine and offer reassurance.