Objective: Rural populations had lower COVID-19 vaccine uptake compared to urban counterparts, but little is known about how the pandemic affected their views on routine childhood vaccinations. This study examined whether the pandemic changed attitudes among rural community college students toward routine childhood vaccines and their intentions to vaccinate future children. Methods: From April to May 2023, an online survey was conducted among students aged 18 and older at a community college in northeastern lower Michigan. The survey assessed COVID-19 vaccination status, views on vaccinating children against COVID-19, and attitudes toward routine childhood vaccines before and after the pandemic. Results: A total of 174 students completed the survey (weighted N = 925); 54% were vaccinated against COVID-19. Support for COVID-19 vaccination increased with child age. Since the pandemic, more students believed children are vaccinated too young (28-34%) and expressed moral opposition (17-26%). Conclusion: The pandemic increased vaccine hesitancy among rural students, emphasizing the need to rebuild trust in rural communities.
Mashinini et al. (Fri,) studied this question.