Covid-19 vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers in India

Results from a cross-sectional survey

Bibliographic Data

ID19594835
AuthorsKayur Mehta (0000-0002-9678-6698, Johns Hopkins University), Baldeep K Dhaliwal (0000-0001-5021-3432, Johns Hopkins University), Sanjay Zodpey (0000-0001-9797-2049, Public Health Foundation of India), Stacie Loisate (0000-0003-1327-9648, Johns Hopkins University), Preetika Banerjee (0000-0002-6129-5020, Johns Hopkins University), Paramita Sengupta (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), Madhu Gupta (0000-0003-3877-9956, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research), Anita Shet (0000-0002-7204-8164, Johns Hopkins University, corresponding author)
EditorsMarco Liverani (0000-0003-0829-291X)
Year2022
Volume2
Issue7
Pagese0000661
Publication date2022-07-06
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0000661
PMID36962469
OpenAlexW4286633082
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited26

Remarkable scientific progress has enabled expeditious development of effective vaccines against COVID-19. While healthcare workers (HCWs) have been at the frontline of the pandemic response, vaccine acceptance amongst them needs further study. We conducted a web-based survey to assess vaccine acceptance among HCWs in India between January and February 2021, shortly after the launch of India’s vaccination campaign. Descriptive statistics were used to examine respondent demographics and Likert scale responses. Binomial logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with vaccine acceptance. The survey yielded 624 respondents from 25 states and five union territories in India; 53.5% were male, and median age was 37 years (IQR 32–46). Amongst all respondents, 84.1% (525/624) supported COVID-19 vaccines, and 63.2% (141/223) of those unvaccinated at the time of survey administration were willing to accept a vaccine. Trust in government sources, healthcare providers or scientific journal articles for COVID-19 related information was reported by 66.8%, while confidence in social media for this information was reported by only 4.5%. Amongst those who had not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine, factors independently associated with vaccine acceptance included age (aOR 3.50 [95% CI, 1.04–11.76] for those above 45 years compared to younger HCWs aged 18–29 years), belief in vaccine effectiveness and safety (aOR 3.78 [95% CI 1.15–12.38]), and provision of free/no-cost vaccine (aOR 2.63 [95% CI, 1.06–6.50]). Most respondents (80%) were confident about their hospital being equipped to efficiently rollout COVID-19 vaccines to the general population. While overall attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination were positive among HCWs in India, acceptance was lower among healthier and younger HCWs. Data availability on vaccine safety and effectiveness, and cost considerations were important for acceptance. Targeted interventions are needed to improve vaccine acceptance amongst HCWs, since they are critical in promoting vaccine acceptance amongst the general population

Cross-sectional study · Descriptive statistics · Disease · Family medicine · Health care · Likert scale · Pandemic · Respondent · Vaccination · COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts · Medicine · Psychology · SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy · Immunology · Internal Medicine

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