Assessment of the impact of seasonal influenza vaccination campaigns on university students

Background: Seasonal influenza vaccination rates are typically low among university students, despite their increased risk of exposure in crowded settings. Public health campaigns are used to encourage vaccination, but it is important to identify if such campaigns are effective. This study assessed the influence of public health campaigns on university students’ attitudes towards the seasonal influenza vaccine. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by distributing questionnaires to a convenience sample of 383 undergraduate students in January 2014. Reported encouragement for seasonal influenza vaccination from public health campaigns was assessed, as well as attitudes regarding vaccination. Chi-square tests were used to analyze differences in attitudes between those who did and did not report receiving encouragement through vaccination campaigns. Results: Receiving encouragement from campaigns was positively associated with students’ reported knowledge of where to receive the vaccine (p=0.01). Encouragement from campaigns was not found to be associated with students’ perceived risk of contracting influenza nor with reducing their fear of harmful side effects.  In fact, receiving encouragement from campaigns was negatively associated with alleviating fears that the vaccine will result in contracting influenza (p<0.05). Discussion: Campaigns appear to be effective at informing students of where to go to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine, but not effective at reducing unrealistic fears regarding vaccination. This suggests an important area for potential improvement in vaccination campaigns.  Campaigns which include additional information on the safety and benefits of the seasonal influenza vaccine could have an important effect on increasing vaccination rates within this vulnerable population.