ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Unprecedented efforts are underway to develop COVID-19 vaccines, widely seen as critical to controlling the pandemic. Academic nursing leaders must be proactive in assuring widespread faculty and student vaccination uptake. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe nursing faculty and student nurse factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine readiness. METHODS: Cross-sectional online survey of nursing faculty and student nurses at a university affiliated with an academic medical center was conducted. FINDINGS: Most full-time faculty (60%) intended to receive the vaccine; but only 45% of adjunct faculty and students reported intending to get vaccinated. The major reasons for not getting vaccinated were vaccine safety and side effects. Collectively, participants reported a low level of knowledge related to vaccine development. DISCUSSION: As the most trusted profession, nurses will play a decisive role in counseling patients about COVID-19 risks and benefits. Findings suggest that academic nursing leaders need to consider faculty and student vaccine concerns and provide vaccine development education.