Influenza Vaccination Perceptions Among Pharmacy Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

As the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the culture of total body health and wellness continues to grow. This research project aimed to shed light on two outcomes: 1) perceptions about the influenza vaccine and vaccination status during the COVID-19 pandemic among student pharmacists, and 2) if vaccination decisions were perceived to have impacted students’ overall health and wellness. This was a descriptive, qualitative study that utilized focus groups with pharmacy students enrolled in didactics during the 2021/2022 school year at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. The focus group meetings were conducted remotely in the summer of 2022. The participants were asked open-ended questions to facilitate discussion on the attitudes and beliefs that may have influenced their vaccination status and whether those decisions were perceived to have impacted their overall health and wellness. Data were collected and analyzed to determine any recurrent themes. All twenty-five participants received the influenza vaccine during Fall 2021/Spring 2022. Seven main themes were identified: (1) altruism; (2) necessity; (3) risk reduction; (4) routine; (5) vaccine knowledge expanded through pharmacy school; (6) advocacy; and (7)hesitancy. This analysis identified key themes, highlighting perceptions surrounding the influenza vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic and how participants felt vaccination decisions may have impacted their overall health and wellness. The findings show students are concerned about themselves, as well as those they may come into contact with. Students perceived their decisions to have little or no impact on their overall health.