COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage and Associated Factors among Students at Peleforo GON COULIBALY University in Korhogo (Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected global public health. COVID-19 vaccination was introduced as a major public health measure during the pandemic, yet uptake remained limited in several settings. Aim: The objective of this study was to assess COVID-19 vaccination coverage among students at Peleforo GON COULIBALY University (UPGC) in Korhogo during the pandemic. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study conducted from January to March 2024 among 401 students selected using a combination of convenience and simple random sampling methods. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate (logistic regression) analyses were performed using R software, with statistical significance set at 5%. Results: COVID-19 vaccination coverage among UPGC students in Korhogo during the pandemic was 26.2% (95% CI: 21.9–30.8). The most commonly administered vaccines were Johnson & Johnson (43.8%) and AstraZeneca (24.8%), with a complete vaccination schedule of 55.2%. Multivariate analysis showed that COVID-19 vaccination was significantly associated with misinformation (rumours) about the COVID-19 vaccine (adjusted OR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.10–0.28; p < 0.001), age above 25 years (adjusted OR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.17–4.28; p = 0.014), and fear of COVID-19 during the pandemic (adjusted OR = 3.00; 95% CI: 1.16–9.46; p = 0.037). Conclusion: The observed vaccination rate remained below the 70% target set by the WHO. It is important to strengthen information and awareness campaigns to increase vaccination coverage in universities and better prepare student populations for future health emergencies.