The Perception of the Flu Vaccine Among College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Flu vaccination prevents cases, hospitalizations, and deaths each year. During 2020 while COVID-19 cases were rapidly rising, flu vaccination was imperative to reducing illness in our country and preventing a flu outbreak concurrent with the coronavirus pandemic. This study looked at the perceptions of the flu vaccine among college students at Belmont University during the COVID-19 pandemic. A mixed-methods study approach was used to determine the decision surrounding vaccination uptake during a pandemic. Several questions were asked pertaining to vaccine uptake, reservations, barriers, COVID-19 behaviors and perception, and thoughts on the importance of the vaccine. This study found that barriers to vaccine uptake fell into categories of cost and accessibility, mistrust, and misinformation. Students that got their flu vaccine consistently often did so due to habit and convenience. Findings from this study can be used to create educational materials and programming to increase knowledge and uptake on college campuses