Perception and Practice on Different COVID-19 Vaccines and Precautionary Dose: A Study among Health Care Workers

ABSTRACT

Background: Health care workers (HCW's) belong to high-risk group and at the same time being the role model to the general population. Current study was undertaken to assess the general level of trust, acceptance and fear on different COVID-19 vaccines among them. Material(s) and Method(s) An online questionnaire were distributed to all the HCW's through WhatsApp link between 1 March 2022 and 30 April 2022 to evaluate the perception and practices on different COVID 19 vaccines and precautionary dose using a snowball sampling method using self-designed structured questionnaire. Result(s) A total of 434 HCWs participated, with doctors (38.5%) and nursing staff (44.30%) nursing students (9.50%), medical students (6%) and others (1.70%). 96% were vaccinated for both first and second dose with only 32.3% for precautionary dose. The main reason for not receiving second dose is that 30 were recently positive for COVID infection and 17 respondents were not convinced with study results. Only 2% took different vaccine for second dose due to non-availability of first vaccine, doubt regarding the efficacy of the vaccine, belief in taking two different vaccines for stronger immunity. Participants took different vaccine for precautionary dose due to non-availability of the vaccine (15.4%), belief in taking two different vaccines provides stronger immunity (76.9%) and shift of residence (7.7%). Conclusion(s) Majority of the HCW's in our study have a modest acceptance towards second dose and precautionary dose. Institutions and other health care set up should scale up educational efforts to disseminate reliable information about different COVID vaccine and provide recommendations about receiving a vaccine booster to promote herd immunity. Copyright © 2023, Dr Yashwant Research Labs Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved.