Intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 of high school students aged 16-18 years old in Thailand: Cross sectional online survey

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an emerging disease, has rapidly instigated a global pandemic. Vaccine development is proceeding at an unprecedented pace along with controlling the pandemic. Once available, it will be important to maximize vaccine uptake and coverage. While vaccine policy which choices of vaccine were limited affected intention to be vaccinated especially aged group below 18 years, there was no procurement plan for this group yet. New discoveries on COVID-19, an emerging disease, had been found all the time, knowledge and understanding, in this regard, acted on awareness and risk perception of the disease.

Objective: To assess COVID-19 related knowledge, risk perception of getting COVID-19 and intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 among a representative sample of high school students aged 16-18 years living in Thailand. Moreover, predictors of and reasons for vaccine hesitancy to be identified.

Design: Cross-sectional online survey between April-June 2021.

Participants: Approximately 2,173 high school students aged 16-18 years across Thailand with access to the internet via smartphone or personal computers.

Results: A total of 2,173 responses were received. Participants aged between 16-18 years. Most participants were female (n=1,577, 72%). Participants revealed a moderate level of COVID-19 related knowledge (M=7.83, SD=1.38), a moderate level of risk perception of getting COVID-19 (M=2.83, SD=1.09). Overall, 23.6% (n = 513) of participants intended to get vaccinated, 40.9% (n = 889) were unsure, and 35.48% (n = 771) did not intend to get vaccinated. Factors that are independently related to vaccine hesitancy ("not sure" or "no" response) include being female, living with family with children aged below 12 years old and /or with a senior member, knowledge about COVID-19, risk perception of getting COVID-19, confidence in the government in handling the pandemic, confidence in public health care system in handling the pandemic and self-rated physical health condition.

Conclusion: COVID-19 related knowledge was at a moderate level and risk perception of getting COVID-19 among participants was at a low level. 76.38% of participants were unsure or did not intend to be vaccinated of what being provided due to concerning over side effects, prefer more choices of vaccine over what being provided. From the results, it is recommended that more choices of vaccines be procured to suitable for different groups and to increase willingness to be vaccinated along with promoting knowledge about the COVID-19, updating COVID-19 situation thoroughly in order to increase risk awareness.