Abstract:

Introduction: Medical students are among the frontline health care providers most likely to be exposed to COVID-19 patients. Achieving high COVID-19 vaccination rates in this group is necessary and important. The aim of this study is to evaluate medical students' COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and related factors in Turkey. The information will help identify potential concerns. Methods: Our study was designed in cross-sectional type. 225 students studying at Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Faculty of Medicine were included in the study. As a data collection tool, an evaluation form was created by scanning the relevant literature. Results: 53.3% (n=120) of the participants had no COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, while 46.7% (n=105) had hesitations about COVID-19 vaccination for various reasons. It was stated that 'they have hesitations about long-term effects of COVID-19 vaccination' with 22.7% (n=51). Participants with COVID-19 infection did not trust information about the vaccine they received from public health professionals and family physicians (p=0.237). Conclusion: In our study, medical students in Turkey seem to have hesitations about the long-term effects of COVID-19 vaccines. These hesitations of physicians and physician candidates should be eliminated. In addition, in our study, it is seen that the rate of those who think about getting the fluvaccine in the next year has increased approximately 10 times. The pandemic has increased students' desire to be vaccinated.

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