OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 vaccine coverage has a crucial role in controlling the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this regard, this study aimed to explore the prior COVID-19 infections and COVID-19 vaccine coverages and their associated factors among students and staff of the University of Duhok (UoD).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 16,874 students and 2,538 staff of the UoD from different colleges (medical, science and engineering, and humanities colleges) and centers were included through an online platform.

RESULTS: The study found that 32.40% of students and 48.39% of staff were infected by COVID-19. The total COVID-19 vaccine coverages of students and staff were 53.16% and 89.16%, respectively. The infected students and staff were more likely to be older, male, and from medical colleges and higher stages. The students from medical colleges were more likely to receive COVID-19 vaccine (31.47%) compared to humanities (24.67%) and science and engineering (24.79%, p<0.0001). Those students and staff who received full vaccination (two doses) were older compared to non-receivers. The infected students were more likely to receive the full vaccination (47.79% vs. 42.50%, p<0.0001). The rate of receiving COVID-19 vaccination increased with increasing scientific titles. The staff was more likely to be infected by COVID-19 compared to the students, 51.62% vs. 32.60%; p<0.0001). However, the staff was more likely to receive the full vaccination, 76.52% vs. 37.15% (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 vaccines coverage was low among students of the UoD. More attempts are required to increase vaccine coverage among students.