KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF PEOPLE WITH REGARDS TO ADULT VACCINATION IN SOUTHERN INDIA, A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background: Adult vaccination has long been recommended in India however,there is a general lack of awareness in the general public due to its non-compulsory nature. However, the Covid-19 pandemic, has thrust vaccines into the spotlight.With this in mind,this study sought to provide more data on public knowledge,attitudes and practices and also qualitative insights into current vaccination perceptions. Method: This was a cross sectional study conducted between October 2022 to December 2022. Results: 717 responses were collected, which revealed a significant gap in public awareness. Only 258 participants were aware of the existence of a government recommended vaccination schedule. Encouragingly, vaccination rates were relatively high with 363(86.84%) out of 418 men and 263(87.95%) out of 299 women being vaccinated at least once in their life.However,it is noteworthy that only 303 participants reported receiving a vaccine other than the SARS-COV2 vaccine. Conclusion: The study highlights the overall low awareness of the adult vaccination schedule in India,emphasizing the need for a collected effort from the government and healthcare workers to address this issue. Enhancing the public knowledge about vaccination practices is essential to ensure widespread participation and ultimately improve public health outcomes.