Knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and vaccine hesitancy amongst dentists regarding COVID-19 vaccination.

Abstract

Purpose: India began its vaccination roll out for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on 16th January, 2021 with the healthcare personnel (HCP) being the priority group to receive the vaccine. Dentists constitute a high-risk subgroup to COVID-19 infection. This study was conducted, to assess the knowledge, attitude and perceptions regarding the COVID-19 vaccination amongst the dentists in India.

Materials and methods: A prospective qualitative study was done in Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. A self-administered, validated questionnaire was shared with 1,000 dentists. Data was analysed for determining statistical significance of qualitative variables.

Results: About 67.1% were graduates, with Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree and 32.9% were postgraduates, with Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) degree; 75.5% were systemically healthy with no reported co-morbidities. About 996 (99.6%) were vaccinated and only 4 subjects were unvaccinated (0.4%). About 70.6% had no hesitancy about getting vaccinated while about 29.4% were hesitant for the same. The main reasons behind vaccine hesitancy were medical or psychological reasons, presence of allergies, comorbidities, lack of unavailability of long-term safety and efficacy data, reports of adverse reactions after vaccination, rapid generation of vaccines, and reports of developing adverse reactions or unexplained deaths after COVID-19 vaccination.

Conclusion: This study has helped to gain an insight into the vaccination status of dentists across India and address the reasons for vaccine hesitancy amongst dentists working in various dental colleges, dental clinics and find ways to address the gaps in the vaccination programme.