ATTITUDES AND HESITANCY TOWARD COVID–19 VACCINE AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND MEDICAL STUDENTS OF RUHS–COLLAGE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

ABSTRACT

Background: A massive global human disaster has been created by a recent contagious respiratory infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The most effective way of controlling infectious diseases is often vaccination. Public vaccine hesitancy is a big problem for public health authorities. Present study was designed to assess the attitudes and hesitancy toward Covid -19 vaccine among healthcare workers and medical students of RUHS-College of Medical Sciences. Material and methods: It was an observational, questionnaire-based study carried out under the department of Pharmacology, RUHS-college of medical sciences Jaipur. The study tool was consists of a digital questionnaire which was prepared in English language. Result: The present study was carried out among 521 health care workers. In this study 48.9% participants were completely agree 31.9% somewhat agree, 13.6% neutral,3.5% somewhat disagree and 2.1% completely disagree to accept covid-19 vaccine without prior employer recommendation. After employer recommendation covid-19 vaccine acceptance was increased. Now 54% participants were completely agree to accept covid-19 vaccine. Hesitancy to covid-19 vaccine was maximal due to possible side effects (65.5%). Conclusions: Acceptability of vaccination in our participants was increased after awareness to vaccine. So by increasing awareness for acceptance of covid-19 vaccine, we can prevent mass rejection of covid-19 vaccine in general population during vaccination program. Vaccine hesitancy must be addressed for successful implementation of covid-19 vaccination program in future