ABSTRACT
Background: The COVID-19 is globally the most critical public health concern of our age. Raising awareness in fighting pandemics, society's perception of COVID-19 in acquiring herd immunity in society, attitudes toward vaccines, and the role of health-care professionals in vaccine acceptance is all important. Aim: This study aimed to determine nursing students' perceptions of the COVID-19 disease and attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 263 nursing students between December 2021 and April 2022. Data were collected using the COVID-19 Disease Perception Scale and the Attitudes toward the COVID-19 Vaccine Scale. Results: The nursing students had high levels of perceptions of COVID-19 and positive attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine. Based on the subscales, the nursing students had high scores in the dangerousness and infectious subscales regarding their perception of the disease. In addition, they had higher scores in the positive subscale than in the negative subscale concerning their attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: Results of this study, planned training programs should be organized, curricula should be revised to help nursing students in order to be prepared for the future pandemics.