Honors College Theses

Publication Date

4-10-2023

Major

Nursing (BSN)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Faculty Mentor

Wilma Matti

Abstract

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), known as Covid-19, was first identified in China and proclaimed a pandemic in March 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Covid-19 is a virus transmitted via respiratory droplets and becomes airborne when a person who carries the virus coughs, sneezes, or breathes out droplets, and the virus enters a susceptible host. Since the pandemic outbreak, three vaccines have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Despite FDA approval, many Americans are hesitant to receive Covid-19 vaccinations. The perceived severity of SARS-CoV-2 and the perceived safety of the vaccine appear to be the most significant predictors of a person’s vaccination status. To gather data to support these assumed predictors, a study was conducted via Qualtrics. The population of the study is twenty-three Georgia Southern University nursing students. Despite no one in the study reporting severe adverse effects, many viewed the vaccine as unsafe. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine was perceived to be the most dangerous, as fifteen out of twenty-three participants voted. Requirements for education or employment and to prevent the spread of Covid-19 were the most popular reasons to be vaccinated, while concern over the quick timeline of the development of the vaccine, disagreement with a Covid-19 vaccine mandate, and religious/medical exemption were the most popular reasons not to be vaccinated.

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