The probe, prepared by the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP), distributed at the end of November, intended to find out mainly what were the main reasons which prompted students to sign up for the jab.
Prorector of the Silesian University in Katowice, Tomasz Pietrzykowski, informed Polish Press Agency PAP that near on 150,000 students responded to the questionnaire circulated by CRASP. 75% said they were vaccinated. A little over 50 % declared an intention to receive the booster dose.
The three most important reasons to vaccinate given were: conviction that vaccinations work, a real threat of infection and illness, and a sense of responsibility for others. Fewest people said they had given in to pressure or were concerned over the opinion of others.
"It is worrying that some 25% of students who replied to the questionnaire said they were not vaccinated. However one cannot exclude that respondents to the probe had decided and unequivocal convictions on COVID-19, which means that the results should be accepted with reservations," Professor Pietrzykowski told PAP.
Nonetheless, in his opinion , 20-30 % students may be unvaccinated, which altogether gives a higher ratio of vaccinated persons than among the general population (55 %). The Health Ministry is currently preparing more precise data on vaccinations among students as well as university staff.
Professor Pietrzykowski also said that CRASP is in favour of regulations that would allow universities to verify vaccination certificates or introduce the requirement of testing before entering on campus.
Source: PAP