Acceptance and concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccine in Kerala, India

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The current global pandemic of COVID-19 is an international threat. A safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19 infection has been on the wish list of healthcare agencies across the globe since the onset of the pandemic. As the process of development of vaccine demands clinical trials across various phases for multiple checks concerning its safety, potency, and efficacy, there is an inherent delay in its launch. Considering the immediate need for global vaccination, the currently administered vaccines have been developed with a short period of testing and hence is a matter of concern among the population. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the acceptance and concerns regarding the vaccinations in the Indian state of Kerala. METHODS The study was a cross-sectional questionnairebased survey conducted online. The target population was individuals aged ≥18 years. The questionnaire was divided into two parts. The first part consisted of questions on personal data such as age, gender, education level, and occupation. The second part consisted of 10 questions to assess the willingness and concerns regarding vaccination for COVID-19 infection. RESULTS The final sample size comprised 314 participants. Over 92% indicated that they were aware of the vaccination guidelines. About 42% reported to have received knowledge about vaccination through printed media and 55% through social media. Among the 84% who were willing to take vaccination or already vaccinated, 39% expressed their willingness to get vaccinated due to their trust in the government’s awareness campaigns. Among 16% unwilling to take the vaccine, 86% were anxious about the side effects/ adverse reactions of the vaccine, and 56% were anxious regarding the effectiveness of the vaccine. CONCLUSIONS The study reveals a good level of acceptance regarding vaccination acceptance among the population studied. The predominant concerns regarding the vaccine included adverse reactions and efficacy. The study population demonstrated a positive attitude towards vaccination.