ABSTRACT
Introduction: India is committed to to prevent pneumonia related deaths in children which is leading cause of vaccine preventable deaths among children under five globally and in India. Objective : To know awareness about pneumococcal (PC) vaccine among medical and nursing students of civil hospital, Ahmedabad. Method: This cross sectional study was conducted on medical and nursing students of civil hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Baseline knowledge of PC Vaccine, side effects of PC vaccine, was assessed by a self-administered structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis - Data analysis was done in Microsoft excel and chi square test was applied. Results: There were 444 respondents and among them 240 (54%) were medical students and 204 (46%) were nursing students, with male female ratio was 95:127. Awareness regarding PC vaccine integration to national immunization schedule found significantly more in nursing students as compare to medical students, (Chi-square = 63.4 at p < 0.05). Medical students had more knowledge about PC vaccine as compared to nursing students. Conclusion: There is still gap in awareness of PC vaccine integration to national immunization schedule among medical students. Field visits among nursing students have positive effects on awareness of nursing students. Medical students should visit to this type of field activities to improve their knowledge about ongoing activities like this