Perception and Attitude of Medical and Dental Students Towards Covid-19 and its Vaccination in A Medical and Dental College of India

ABSTRACT

Background: Medical and dental students are among the frontline workers in the battle against COVID 19. As such their vaccination is mandatory. We conducted this study to assess perception and attitude of medical and dental students towards COVID-19 disease and its vaccination. Method(s) A total of 185 medical and 170 dental students were included in our study. A questionnaire based on previous studies was prepared. The respondents were interviewed telephonically and appropriate responses were recorded. Result(s) Among 355 students enrolled in our study, higher percentage of dental students were infected with COVID-19 (26%) as against only 20% medical students. 60% dental students had been tested for COVID-19 as against 70% medical students. Majority students in both the groups had done rapid antigen test (RAT). Academic loss was the major COVID-19 disease related concern among medical students, while in dental group there were two major concerns i.e academic loss and fear of passing the infection to family. Both the groups feared anaphylaxis the most as a sequel of vaccination. The other vaccination concerns in both the groups were fever, myalgias, infertility, thrombus formation while few female students feared that vaccination may disturb their menstrual cycles. The preferred vaccine in both the groups was Covishield. Conclusion(s) Our study concluded that there are many hurdles in the path of vaccination even among medical and dental students. It is important to address these hesitancies especially among health care workers since their opinion and recommendation is held supreme by common masses. Copyright © RJPT All right reserved.