Abstract

Research conducted on this topic identified the perspective of MacEwan University Communications students and alumni on mandatory Covid-19 vaccination. The researchers believed most students would be in favour of, and have a positive outlook on, mandatory vaccination, but those who disagree will do so for issues regarding rights and freedoms. The data can be applied to understand perceptions and perspectives on public vaccination messaging. Potential influences on the choice to be vaccinated, such as age, where the individual is from, and their political stance, have also been analyzed. Research on this topic can inform vaccine companies and researchers about how the public understands their product and what factors in the vaccine’s messaging affect public perspective. This research circulated through MacEwan University Communications students and alumni through a program-wide email and a post on the Bachelor of Communication Blackboard course. These messages included a link to the online, voluntary, anonymous survey dedicated to perspectives on mandatory Covid-19 vaccination that was available during the Fall 2021 semester. Numerical and textual responses gathered from the study were analyzed based on the common patterns found within the group’s responses to the questions asked in the survey. Data collected from this research will be useful in identifying public perceptions of mandatory vaccination during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study found that most Communications students and alumni viewed mandatory vaccination positively for MacEwan University.

Keywords: mandatory vaccination, public perception, publicly accessible research, positive outlook