What Happens When Cost and Accessibility Are Covered? An Exploration of Factors Motivating Students to Participate in a H1N1 Vaccination Clinic

Background: Many colleges provided H1N1 vaccination clinics. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to examine factors associated with participation in an on-campus H1N1 vaccination clinic. The Health Belief Model is used to examine factors related to decisions to be vaccinated. Significance: Since 2000, influenza-like illnesses have been one of the top reasons cited for poor academic performance among college students. The current pandemic resulted in significant outbreaks of illness and surges on many college health clinics. A vaccine became available in mid-fall 2009. Methods: A self-administered survey was conducted during a university health center H1N1 vaccination clinic in early spring 2010. Students were surveyed in the health center and in public locations on campus. A total of 600 participated in the study. Logistic regression was conducted to analyze the odds of student motivation to receive the H1N1 vaccination. Findings: The results suggest a high degree of awareness of the H1N1 virus among the university community. A small proportion of students had been vaccinated prior to the vaccination clinic. The odds of receiving vaccination were higher for students who believed the H1N1 virus was a greater public health threat and for students who had friends that were vaccinated after controlling for sex, academic major, and ethnicity. Conclusions: The results clearly indicate the importance of providing pandemic influenza vaccination clinics on campus for the college population. Additionally, students need to be made aware of the threat of the virus and should be encouraged to participate in vaccination efforts.