COVID-19 VACCINATION HESITANCY AMONG PEOPLE OF AN URBAN AREA OF ROHTAK DISTRICT, HARYANA

Dr. B. M. Vashisht, Dr. Ginni Agrawal*, Arup Saha, Dr. Aman Sachdeva, Dr. Jyotsana, Dr. Pratibha and Dr. Anil Kumar

ABSTRACT

Background: Effective and safe COVID 19 vaccines have been approved for emergency use and countries are actively vaccinating their people. Even after endless efforts, hesitancy towards the vaccines exist globally. Objectives: This study was conducted to find out the possible reasons associated with Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy and to identify strategies to overcome this hesitancy in an urban area of Rohtak district, Haryana. Methods: This study was a community based cross-sectional study conducted in an urban community of Rohtak district, Haryana, among 251 persons who had not been vaccinated with covid-19 vaccine yet. Universal sampling technique was opted and data were collected using an online semi-structured questionnaire. Results: More than 50% unvaccinated subjects were females belonging to 18-44 years of the age group. Mean age of the subjects enrolled was 39.78 ± 17.08 years. Pregnancy, no need of vaccine and lactation were the top most reasons for vaccine hesitancy, whereas, about 18% of unvaccinated subjects did not state any specific reason for the reluctancy towards vaccine. Proof of vaccination before boarding public transport, restricted entry at religious places without covid vaccination proof and no Government benefits to the unvaccinated were the commonly selected options from the list provided to overcome vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion: This hesitancy is due to lack of trust and people’s attitude towards the health system and the vaccine. With proper communication strategies we can build people’s trust in the vaccine and health system.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine, vaccine hesitancy, urban, Haryana.