Seasonal influenza vaccination uptake among health and medical college students: A discrete choice experiment.

Seasonal influenza is a highly contagious virus posing significant health risks, especially to children, pregnant women, and older adults. Despite its crucial role in prevention and reducing severity, vaccination rates among medical and health students, who frequently interact with vulnerable groups, remain low. This study investigates attributes of influenza vaccines that predict vaccination decisions within this population, while also examining how these preferences vary based on the health literacy levels of the respondents. Between May and June 2024, 239 Slovenian medical and health students completed an online discrete choice experiment presenting vaccines varying in efficacy, side effects, and administration site. Preferences were analyzed to identify key attributes. Results showed that higher efficacy and fewer side effects drove vaccine choice across all disciplines. Medical students favored faculty-based vaccination, whereas nursing and other health discipline students preferred GP offices and NIPH units. Health literacy did not alter the importance of efficacy and safety, but those with sufficient literacy showed a stronger preference for GP settings over faculty sites. Campaigns should emphasize vaccine efficacy and the low risk of severe side effects, reassuring that mild reactions are transient. Facilitating GP-based vaccination for nursing and other health discipline students may further improve uptake.