Assessment of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Health Care Workers and General Population - A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abinaya E; Maignana Kumar R; Ruckmani A; Arunkumar R

Abinaya E Department of Pharmacology, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Maignana Kumar R Department of Pharmacology, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai-603103, Tamil Nadu, India.
Ruckmani A Department of Pharmacology, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Arunkumar R Department of Pharmacology, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine, Acceptance, Hesitancy, Health Care Workers, General Population

Abstract

Introduction: This cross-sectional survey was conducted to estimate the proportion of participants among health care workers and general population who are willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who are not, and to identify the reasons for vaccine hesitancy among the participants.

Methods: Health care workers of a tertiary care hospital and the general population residing in the nearby areas of the tertiary care hospital were predominantly included in the study. A specific questionnaire was designed, validated, and administered to the participants after obtaining consent.

Result: The responses were collected using Google Form and compiled in an excel sheet for analysis. The difference in opinion with regard to acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine was statistically analysed using Chi-square test. The vaccine acceptance rate was high among the general population (70.2%) as compared to health care workers (56.7%) (p = 0.0006, highly significant). The remaining proportions of participants (43.3% of health care workers and 29.8% of general population) were hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Conclusion: The reasons for vaccine hesitancy were fear of harmful effects, doubtful efficacy, lack of transparency in clinical trials, and fast track vaccine development.

How to cite this article:
Abinaya E, Maignana Kumar R, Ruckmani A, Arunkumar R. Assessment of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Health Care Workers and General Population - A Cross-Sectional Survey. J Commun Dis. 2021; 53(2): 82-88.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202130

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