An Inquiry into the Self-reported COVID-19 Vaccination Status of Final Year Undergraduate Nursing Students who attend a Tertiary Educational Institution in Jamaica

Paul Andrew  Bourne; Caroline  McLean; James  Fallah; Calvin  Campbell; Clifton  Foster; Michael  Burke; Mesheka  Tatham; Brittiney  Williamson; Imani  Sinclair; Jodie-Ann  Pinnock; Shenae  Nicholson; Abbey-Gaye  White; Keisha-gay Bailey- Glave; Akelia Rankine- Barrett

लेखक

Paul Andrew Bourne Department of Institutional Research, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
Caroline McLean Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
James Fallah Department of Dental Hygiene, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
Calvin Campbell Department of Mathematics and Engineering, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
Clifton Foster Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
Michael Burke Department of Institutional Research and Quality Management, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
Mesheka Tatham Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
Brittiney Williamson Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
Imani Sinclair Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
Jodie-Ann Pinnock Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
Shenae Nicholson Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
Abbey-Gaye White Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
Keisha-gay Bailey- Glave Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
Akelia Rankine- Barrett Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.

सार

Introduction: The COVID-19 Pandemic placed the world on notice when it first emerged and was officially identified more than18 months ago. Nevertheless, the world has responded and rose to the challenge despite the odds. One such response was the development of multiple vaccines to help in the battle against the virus. Amid the development, the response was mixed at best, with lines of separation drawn and a discourse that continues to play out in the arena of public opinion.

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the self-reported COVID-19 vaccination status and vaccines hesitancy of final year undergraduate nursing students in a tertiary educational institution in Jamaica.

Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey with a descriptive non-probability sampling design was distributed to 104 third-year nursing students enrolled in a university in Jamaica from July 2020 to October 2021. The university review committee approved the survey.

Results: The findings indicated that the majority of the sampled respondents were not vaccinated against COVID-19 (59.8%, n=61) at the time of this research. This means that 3 in every 5 of the sampled respondents were not vaccinated against COVID-19. 1 in every 5 (19.6%, n=20) were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In fact, 48.8% (n=20) of the vaccinated respondents have been fully-vaccinated against COVID-19 and 51.2% (n=21) had gotten one dose.

Conclusion: Health care professionals, including students, must demonstrate a duty of care that extends to patients, colleagues, and the collective society in which they practice. Do the Jamaican government and healthcare leaders bear a similar responsibility toward protecting its citizens, including patients and healthcare workers as well as students, through the necessary means amid the Pandemic? These are but a few of the nagging questions that require deeper probing.