Mnguni, LindelaniGómez Salgado, JuanChirico, Francesco2025-12-032025-12-032025Mnguni, L., Batra, K., Khorsandi, J., Dagovetz, M., Rizzo, A., Gómez-Salgado, J., Yildirim, M., Nucera, G., Ramulumo, M., & Chirico, F. (2025). The association between COVID-19 vaccination status, knowledge, and attitudes among pre-service life science teachers in South Africa. Medicine, 104(41), e45237. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.00000000000452370025-79741536-5964 (electrónico)https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27491The prevalence of vaccine hesitancy has posed challenges in managing infectious diseases like coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While science teachers have the potential to promote health literacy and influence community attitudes, there is a paucity of research on their vaccination behaviors and perceptions related to COVID-19. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between knowledge, attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination, and vaccination statuses among pre-service science teachers in South Africa. Final-year Bachelor of Education pre-service life sciences teachers (n = 182) in South Africa were surveyed using a previously validated closed-ended questionnaire. Regression analyses were employed to discern influential factors on vaccination behavior. Most participants demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of COVID-19’s nature and symptoms, along with the efficacy and safety of vaccines. Nevertheless, prominent misconceptions emerged, such as the misbelief that the SARS-CoV-2 virus does not cause COVID-19 and that vaccines can modify human deoxyribonucleic acid. Regression analyses found a notable correlation between the attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines and actual vaccination status. This study emphasizes the pressing need to rectify prevailing health-related misconceptions and attitudes in teacher education programs to enhance teachers’ role in influencing students’ health behaviors and beliefs.engAttribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/AttitudesCOVID-19COVID-19 vaccineHealth literacy in educationPre-service life sciences teachersVaccinationVaccine hesitancyjournal article10.1097/MD.0000000000045237open access3212 Salud Publica