COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake Among Nigerian University Students: A Case Study of ABU Zaria

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted various sectors, including education. While vaccines were developed to curb the virus's spread, studies and anecdotal evidence show low uptake among undergraduate students, largely due to concerns about side effects and conspiracy theories. This study assessed the level of knowledge, uptake, and the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination decisions among undergraduate students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey used electronic questionnaires to gather responses from 417 undergraduate students at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Nigeria, through stratified random sampling. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics were presented in frequency tables and percentages. Multivariate logistic regression determined independent predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Results: Most students (78.2%) had good knowledge of COVID-19, but only 9.7% were fully vaccinated. Uptake was facilitated by perceived severity (OR = 2.12, p = .017), sufficient information (OR = 2.50, p < .001), and mandatory requirements (OR = 3.89, p < .001), while side-effect concerns (OR = 0.27, p < .001), mistrust, and misinformation were key barriers. Health-related students were more likely to be vaccinated (OR = 2.85, p = .009), while other socio-demographic factors, including age, gender, religion, ethnicity, parental education, and academic level, were not significant predictors of vaccination (all p > 0.05). Conclusions: There is a significant disconnect between the high level of knowledge and vaccine uptake among the study population. This was mainly due to conspiracy theories and fear of side effects. Therefore, targeted campaigns and vaccination mandates for university registration were recommended.