Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the socio-economic sphere. While vaccines have undoubtedly been instrumental in curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the broader issue of vaccine hesitancy still poses a significant challenge, as individuals express reluctance to vaccinate due to concerns about safety, efficacy, mistrust in governmental institutions, and personal beliefs. South Africa has reported vaccine hesitancy among young people, including university students, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Therefore, this study explored the intentions of university students in South Africa to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, using the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). A cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University of Johannesburg. Data were collected using an adapted self-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 29. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used to examine the factors influencing vaccination intentions. Out of 146 students who participated, only 24.7% intended to vaccinate, while 73.3% did not. Gender and recent vaccination history were significantly associated with intention to vaccinate. Logistic regression analysis revealed that exposure to vaccine advertisements was a significant predictor of intention to vaccinate. Other constructs from the HBM and TPB, such as perceived effectiveness and social support, showed associations but were not statistically significant predictors. The findings highlight that vaccine hesitancy among university students remains a concern. Public health interventions targeting this group should focus on effective communication strategies that address safety concerns and leverage trusted sources. The study provides valuable insights that can inform the design of interventions to increase vaccine uptake and reduce hesitancy among university students in South Africa.