A cross sectional study exploring determinants for vaccine awareness, belief and hesitancy among health care professionals regarding Covid-19 vaccine, findings from a teaching hospital based in coal capital of India

Perception, acceptance, and adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines: Insights from Indian population

Background

Vaccination has been pivotal in eradicating numerous infectious diseases. Nonetheless, concerns about the safety and side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine persist. This study aimed to gauge the perceptions and experiences of the Indian population concerning COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods

This study was a cross-sectional survey of 313 participants aged 18 and above from diverse regions in India. Data was sourced using an electronic questionnaire disseminated via Google Forms. The survey evaluated demographics, vaccine awareness, attitudes, and side effects post-vaccination with Covishield and Covaxin.

Results

22.6% of participants exhibited vaccine hesitancy; however, 78.3% believed the advantages superseded the risks. Most participants (81.5%) were aware of vaccine side effects. Most of the Indian respondents (97.1%) accepted the COVID-19 vaccine. Post-vaccination, 27.9% experienced adverse effects such as fever, headache, malaise, dizziness, and pain at the local site. Only 1.3% necessitated hospitalization.

Conclusion

Our study underscores the dichotomy between vaccine apprehensions and real-world experiences. Although concerns surrounding vaccine safety were prevalent, the majority of the Indian respondents (97.1%) accepted the COVID-19 vaccine, with most experiencing only transient, mild side effects. While 22.6% initially exhibited hesitancy, primarily due to misinformation, the actual experience post-vaccination was largely positive. To further address hesitancy, streamlined vaccine awareness campaigns emphasizing the safety and efficacy of vaccination are essential.

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccines in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to evaluate the acceptability levels for COVID vaccine(s) in various states in India. Published articles in PubMed/Scopus/Cochrane/DOAJ/the Web of Science that focused on assessing COVID-19 vaccine hesitation/vaccine acceptance using a survey/questionnaire were included. After extensive research, 524 records were found, and after screening on the basis of eligibility criteria, only 23 papers were added to this review. Increased vaccine assumption percentage (>70%) among the population was found in two surveys nationwide (92.8%) and in Delhi (79.5%). For pooled estimates of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and heterogeneity, twenty-three studies (23) consisting of 39,567 individuals reported for acceptance of COVID 19 vaccine in India.. Out of these, 26,028 individuals accepted the COVID-19 vaccine, giving a pooled estimate of 62.6% (95% CI: 55.6-69.4) with considerable heterogeneity (χ² = 3397.3, p < 0.0001; I² = 99.40%). The results of this study give a brief insight into the percentage acceptance and hesitancy among the Indian population regarding COVID-19 vaccine immunisation. Future research and vaccine education initiatives can be steered by the findings of this work as a starting point.

Perception of COVID-19 Booster Dose Vaccine among Healthcare Workers in India and Saudi Arabia

Background: COVID-19 vaccines were made available to the public by the end of 2020. However, little is known about COVID-19 booster dose (CBD) vaccine perception among healthcare workers (HCW) worldwide. The present study aims to assess the perception of CBD vaccines among healthcare workers in India and Saudi Arabia (SA). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs in two countries, India and SA. Data were gathered through the use of a self-administered questionnaire. A convenience sampling technique was utilized to collect the data. Results: A total of 833 HCW responses were collected from the two countries, with 530 participants from India and 303 participants from SA responding to the questionnaire. Among them, 16% from India and 33% from SA were unwilling to take a CBD (p < 0.005). The primary reasons for not being willing were concerns about whether the vaccine would be effective (32%) and concerns about probable long-term side effects (31%). Concerns about not knowing enough about the vaccination (30%) and the possibility of long-term side effects (28%) were the primary concerns in SA. Regression analysis showed that males, urban residents, and post-graduates were more willing to take the CBD. Conclusion: There is a good perception of CBD and some hesitancy in receiving the booster dose among HCWs in both countries. The introduction of personalized education, risk communication, and deliberate policy could help to reduce the number of people who are unwilling to take a booster shot.