Evaluation of Vaccine Knowledge of Sixth-Year Medical Students During the Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Objective: The study aimed to investigate whether 6th-grade students in a medical school have sufficient knowledge about general and COVID-19 vaccine types at the end of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this qualitative study, the sample was selected by snowball method among 6th-year medical students in February 2021. The data were collected in-depth by using a semi-structured question guide with 10 participants who agreed to be interviewed. Results: Most of the participants stated that they did not feel knowledgeable enough about the general vaccine types, the newly produced COVID-19 vaccines, the mechanisms of action of COVID-19 vaccines, and the efficacy and safety of these vaccines. All participants agreed to have the recommended vaccine before the phase studies were completed. Conclusion: It is invaluable for the participants to report that they had decided to be vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine, which was Turkey’s first recommended and current vaccine. Although they thought their COVID-19 vaccine knowledge was insufficient, they agreed to get vaccinated to protect themselves and society. Furthermore, it is remarkable that most participants also reported recommending the new vaccines to society. Therefore, we suggest that general and current vaccine information, including the COVID-19 vaccine, should be part of the medical school core education curriculum. In addition, it will be essential to repeat similar and qualitative research on available vaccine types and COVID-19 vaccines after the pandemic and compare the results with the data in the middle of the pandemic.