Motivation for COVID-19 vaccination among international students in Russia

INTRODUCTION: After Russia decided to start COVID-19 vaccination of international students who are getting their education on its territory, they received an opportunity to get a single dose of COVID-19 Sputnik Light vaccine. What motives can such international students have for being vaccinated in the situation of uncertainty? OBJECTIVES: Our goal is to define the structure of motivation for COVID-19 vaccination among international students who are getting education at different departments of the university. METHODS: In October 2021, we surveyed 409 international students getting education at Ulianov Chuvash State University in Cheboksary, who agreed to COVID-19 vaccination. RESULTS: Those who applied for vaccination were mostly 3(rd) year students (32.03%) and 4(th) year ones (21.52%). 8 students out of the surveyed (1.96%) had been vaccinated outside Russia, 4 – in Russia (0.98%). 8.56% of the pool had had COVID-19, 57.7% had not, 33.74% could not give a certain answer. Main motives for COVID-19 vaccination were: unwillingness to be ill (57.21%), unwillingness to have any limitations imposed (22.98%), unwillingness, especially of medical students, to have problems in their studies (12.22%), inclination towards following their relatives’ advice (5.13%), desire to follow the surrounding people’s example (1.98%). In personal conversations, the students often expressed their wish for being vaccinated with a 2-component Sputnik V vaccine for a better protection from illness. CONCLUSIONS: The survey of the international students’ motives showed that most of them have positive attitude to COVID-19 vaccination and feel inclined to be vaccinated with a Russian vaccine in order to reduce the risk of getting ill. DISCLOSURE: No significant relationships.