P – ISSN 2651 - 7701 | E – ISSN 2651 – 771X | www.ioer-imrj.com ABRAZADO, G.B., CORONEL, C.M., Determinants of Covid – 19 Vaccine Uptake Intentions among Employees, Parents, and Students in an Educational Institutions, pp. 213 - 221 178 IOER INTERNATIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH JOURNAL, VOL. 4, NO. 1, MARCH 2022 DETERMINANTS OF COVID-19 VACCINE UPTAKE INTENTIONS AMONG EMPLOYEES, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS IN AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION DR. GLORIA B. ABRAZADO 1 , DR. CARMELITA M. CORONEL 2 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4322-017X 1 rccvpaabrazado@gmail.com 1 , yakc49@yahoo.com 2 Republic Central College, Angeles City Philippines 1- 2 ABSTRACT One of the most affected sectors amidst the COVID-19 pandemic is the education sector as many classrooms in the world remained closed. To reopen the schools safely, it is important to vaccinate the members of the academic community. This descriptive-correlational research aimed to determine the factors that may influence the willingness of the students, parents, and employees to receive COVID-19 vaccines for the safe reopening of campus. A total of 877 responses were included in the analysis. Spearman rho was used to correlate the variables. The results showed that generally, the participants have a moderate level of knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccines and that they were concerned about the serious side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine; however, they were positive on the importance and benefits of the vaccine. The majority were undecided to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. The results further revealed that the determinants of vaccine uptake intentions among the participants in the education institution were age, educational qualifications, the extent of knowledge about the vaccine, and attitude towards the vaccine. A carefully planned communication strategy and education campaigns can help to influence the behavior of the students, parents, and school employees particularly the young adults on their vaccine uptake intentions. Topics on COVID 19 disease and vaccination may be integrated with the curriculum to promote widespread confidence in the vaccines. Keywords: COVID 19 vaccines, vaccine uptake intention, health profile, attitude, Spearman rho, Philippines INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic which was declared on March 11, 2020, by the World Health Organization (WHO) has indeed brought worldwide unprecedented disturbance in the operations of the different government and private sectors in which the impact is seen heavily in the aspects of economy and health. Along with the implemented health protocols and other community restrictions, vaccines are the foremost weapon to combat the COVID-19 infection. According to WHO (2021), getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to get protection from COVID-19. It is because, after vaccination, the immune system is strengthened to fight the virus, thereby preventing illnesses. In the Philippines, COVID-19 vaccination started in March 2021 with a target of 58 million people by the end of the year (SRD, 2021). One of the factors to control the pandemic is the willingness of the people to be vaccinated. Lin, Tu, and Beitsch (2021) noted that to achieve herd immunity, vaccines should be effective and that people are willing to accept them. Reaching herd immunity requires high COVID-19 vaccine uptake. COVID-19 herd immunity requires an estimate of 50% to 80% population with the level of immunity acquired either by vaccination or natural infection recovery (Fontanet and Cauchemez, 2020). 213