COVID-19 Vaccination in Canadian Dental Schools

Background: Oral Healthcare workers, including dental students, face a great risk of COVID-19 infection. High COVID-19 vaccination coverage is essential for a protected workforce. This study, which aims to document the COVID-19 vaccination experience among dental students and employees from Canadian dental schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, provides crucial insights that can significantly impact future vaccination strategies. Methods: This study used data from a prospective cohort conducted between April 2021 and May 2022. We recruited 600 participants, including dental students, faculty, and support staff from 10 Canadian dental schools. Data were collected monthly from all subjects. Vaccination acceptance and vaccination time were assessed. Logistic regression models were performed to identify predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and late vaccination. In order to detect hesitation tendencies, descriptive statistics were used to observe the distribution of time to vaccination between age groups of employees and students. Results: Out of 600 participants at baseline (70% female; average age 36 years old), 91% received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. No associations were found between sociodemographic factors and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Individuals aged 50-59 were less likely to delay the vaccination than most of our sample. Students presented more outliers for later vaccination times, particularly in younger age groups. Conclusion: High vaccination acceptance among dental students is crucial for promoting professionalism and influencing patients. Integrating vaccine advocacy into their education might enhance vaccination uptake in the general population.