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A Study to Assess the Knowledge, Opinion, and Potential Acceptance of COVID - 19 Vaccines among the Public

Dr. Seeta Devi

Assoc. Professor, Symbiosis College of Nursing (SCON), Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune

ABSTRACT Background

The pandemic of COVID-19 continues to grow all over the world. At present COVID – 19 vaccine provides the finest anticipation to control the pandemic of COVID- 19. Currently, different types of vaccines are available to control Caronavirus disease.

Nevertheless, to check the effectiveness and accuracy of vaccines, people need to be accepted to take the vaccine.

The objective of this study is to assess the awareness, opinion, and acceptance of the COVID – 19 disease vaccines.

Materials and methods

An online-based cross-sectional design was conducted. The sample size was 156 who were aged above 18 years. These samples were chosen by using the snow ball sampling technique. The measurement scale was sent on WhatsApp of the participants by using google form. A total of 156 samples have responded to questionnaires. A panel of experts was involved for validation. The measurement scale had mainly evaluated the knowledge, opinion, and acceptance of the participants to the COVID -19 vaccine.

The data was analyzed by checking the frequency and percentages, and standard deviation.

Results

Approximately 58 % to 82% of participants were aware of actual symptoms of COVID -19, nearly 72 % to 90 % of participants answered that COVID -19 infection is transmitted by inhalation of respiratory droplets of an infected person and taking uncleaned food and water. In addition to the above results, the majority of the participants aware of wearing a mask, keeping social distance, and frequent sanitization can reduce the contraction of COVID -19 infection. Unpredictably 64.10 % of samples were not willing to take COVID - 19 vaccine while 42.95 % of subjects said they don’t even suggest their friends and relatives take this vaccine.

Conclusion:

The results of this study showed that people are having good knowledge about causes, symptoms, and mode of transmission of COVID - 19 infection. However, there are fewer chances for the uptake of the COVID -19 vaccine by people. The public needs to be educated about the working nature of the vaccine.

Keywords

Knowledge, opinion, potential acceptance, COVID-19 vaccine.

Introduction

Coronaviruses belong to a large family of viruses that causes various illness in humans ranging from the common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome. It is transmitted from one person to another by small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are expelled by a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks. These droplets are moderately thick, do not travel far, and quickly sink to the ground. As per the research statistics till now, comorbid patients are likely to be infected easily than other patients.1

In addition to the above, globally there is a huge impact on the economic burden all over the world. Due to this many employees lost their jobs. These impacts enforced the government to encourage pharmaceutical companies to produce the vaccine urgently. Currently, the vaccine against COVID-19 developed in several countries.2

The immunity developed by the COVID -19 vaccine helps people to reduce the risk of emergence of illness due to COVID - 19. This immunity is useful to protect the people in contracting with COVID - 19 infection, due to this, the spreading of infection to another individual will be reduced. The action of the COVID-19 vaccine is to make the immune system recognize and block the virus that is responsible to cause COVID - 19.3

For the development of the COVID -19 vaccines, WHO had ensured the quality, safety, and efficacy. WHO has provided permission to the pharmaceutical companies to release the vaccine only after ensuring the multi-stage testing comprising phase III trials which includes testing on 10000 people to recognize the usual side effects. 4 A sequence of independent reviews of efficacy and safety is required to be conducted after clinical trials of COVID - 19. Nevertheless, people are uncertain about the efficacy and safety of the COVID - 19 vaccines as a few cases reported with COVID - 19 infection after vaccination, apart from this some people have developed side effects.5 Globally, the majority of the people are reluctant, show an unwillingness to takeCOVID - 19 vaccine. The reasons for vaccine refusal are doubtful about the efficacy of vaccine and fear about the side effects of vaccine-associated

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with neurological problems, brain damage, autism, etc. To the best of investigators' knowledge, adequate studies are not conducted on the opinion and acceptance of the public for the COVID - 19 vaccine. The current study aims to assess the opinion and acceptance of the people regardingCOVID - 19.6

Materials and Methods

A web-based survey was conducted by adopting a cross-sectional research design. The sample enrolled in this study were from Pune and they are aged above 18 years. The tool was prepared by using google forms and links were shared with the subjects through WhatsApp. For the selection of samples, the snowball sampling technique was used.

A total of 156 samples have responded to questionnaires. The subject’sparticipation in this study was voluntary and confidentiality of the subjects was ensured by collecting the responses on the individual mail id of the investigator.

The evaluation questionnaire was developed based review of the literature. Content validity for this questionnaire was done by a panel of experts. This questionnaire was developed in Marathi and English languages. A pilot study was conducted on 15 samples to check the feasibility of the study. No major modifications were required in the tool after the conduct of the pilot study.

The tool consisted of three sections, section I included demographic information, such as age, educational qualification, occupation, religion, and income. While the second section included an opinion of the participants regarding the COVID - 19 vaccines and section three comprised the potential acceptance for the COVID - 19 vaccines.

Calculation of Sample Size

The sample size was calculated using the Kish formula with a confidence interval level of 95% and a 4% margin for error. The expected sample was 156.

The data was analyzed by checking the frequency and percentages, and standard deviation.

RESULTS

Table 1. Distribution of the Participants Based on their Demographic Variables

Demographic Variable f %

Age

18-29 61 39.10

30-40 67 42.95

41-50 14 8.97

51-60 14 8.97

More than 60 years 0 0

Gender

Male 86 55.13

Female 70 44.87

Educational Qualification

Profession or Honours 56 35.90

Graduate or postgraduate 100 64.10

Occupation

Profession 58 37.18

Semi-Profession 57 36.54

Clerical, Shop-owner, Farmer 17 10.90

Skilled worker 24 15.38

Family Income per month

≥36017 140 89.74

18000-36016 16 10.26

Religion

Hindu 90 57.69

Muslim 44 28.21

Christian 22 14.10

Are you suffering from

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comorbid conditions?

Hypertension 24 15.38

Diabetes 36 23.08

Hypertension and

Diabetes 34 21.79

Table 2- Distribution of the samples on knowledge regarding COVID - 19:

What are the symptoms of COVID - 19 infection f %

Cold and cough 89 57.05

Fever with chills 122 78.21

Diarrhea 60 38.46

Loss of smell and taste 128 82.05

How is COVID - 19 infection is transmitted

Inhalation of respiratory droplets of an infected person 112 71.79

Drinking uncleaned water 133 85.26

Drinking uncleaned food 140 89.74

What are the precautionary measures to prevent the contract of COVID - 19 infection

Wearing mask 132 84.62

Washing hands after each surface touch 144 92.31

Maintaining social distance 149 95.51

Frequent sanitization of hands 112 71.79

Table 3- Opinion regarding COVID -19 vaccine

S.No Opinion f %

1. COVID - 19 vaccine is clinically safe Yes 54 34.62

No 102 65.38

2. COVID - 19 vaccine is clinically effective Yes 34 21.79

No 122 78.21 3. Confused about the accuracy of the COVID - 19 vaccine Yes 89 57.05 No 67 42.95 4. There is a low risk of contracting COVID - 19 infection if we take the

vaccine

Yes 56 35.90 No 100 64.10 5. I am scared to take COVID - 19 vaccine due to its potential side effects. Yes 93 59.62 No 63 40.38

6. The vaccine may cause fertility Yes 82 52.56

No 74 47.44 7. I don’t think my immune system can afford a vaccine Yes 63 40.38 No 93 59.62

8. I don’t require it because I believe in God Yes 76 48.72

No 80 51.28 9. I don’t take this vaccine because it acts like a foreign Yes 76 48.72 No 80 51.28

10. This vaccine not trustworthy Yes 32 20.51

No 124 79.49 11. This vaccine is produced quickly due to political pressure Yes 78 50.00

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No 78 50.00 12. I cannot believe the pharmaceutical companies who produced vaccine

Yes 87 55.77 No 69 44.23

13. If a vaccine is available to you, are you willing to take the vaccine

Yes 56 35.90 No 100 64.10

14. Would you suggest your friends take COVID - 19 vaccine Yes 89 57.05 No 67 42.95

Discussion

The current study surveyed the knowledge, opinion, and acceptance of the general public for COVID -19 vaccine.

About 60.26 % of participants have been suffering from comorbidities includes hypertension and diabetes

Approximately 58 % to 82% of participants were aware of symptoms of COVID -19, nearly 72 % to 90 % of participants answered that COVID - 19 infection is transmitted by inhalation of respiratory droplets of an infected person and taking uncleaned food and water. In addition to the above results, 72 % to 96 % of participants aware of wearing a mask, and keeping social distance and frequent sanitization can reduce the contraction of COVID - 19 infection. A study conducted by Mannan etal on Knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19 Vaccine. The results observed that around 85 % to 96 people of the subjects were known about the symptoms of COVID -19 while 89 % to 98 % of subjects aware of the factors responsible for the transfer of COVID- 19.7

In the current study, in the context of opinion and acceptance to COVID - 19 vaccine, 65% and 78 % of participants stated vaccine is clinically not safe and effective. While 89 % of subjects were confused about whether to take the vaccine or not. 40 % of the participants were scared to take the vaccine by assuming potential side effects of the vaccine. Surprisingly about 52.56 % of subjected mentioned that COVID - 19 vaccine might weaken fertility. Nearly 49 % of the sample stated that they don’t want to take the vaccine because they think this vaccine produces foreign toxins in their body. Unexpectedly, 79.49 of participants believed that these vaccines are not trustworthy, while 78 % of subjects stated that this vaccine is produced quickly due to political pressures. Unpredictably 64.10 % of samples were not willing to take COVID - 19 vaccine while 42.95 % of subjects said they don’t even suggest their friends and relatives take this vaccine. A study conducted by Qerem etal study results showed that nearly 83 % of the subjects were concerned about the efficacy and effect of the vaccine. About 37 % of the participants state that they never wanted to take the COVID- 19 vaccines.

Conclusion

The results of this study showed that people are having good knowledge about causes, symptoms, and mode of transmission of COVID - 19 infection. However, there are fewer chances for the uptake of the COVID -19 vaccine by the participant. The causes for the subject’s resistance to vaccines were concerns about the efficacy, side effects of the vaccine. Conducting various awareness programs forthe public might be useful to provide adequate information about the working nature of the vaccine.

Funding: Symbiosis College f Nursing, Symbiosis (International Deemed University), Pune Conflict of Interest: Nil

Acknowledgments

I always would like to thank the management of Symbiosis College of Nursing, SIU for their continuous support and encouragement for conducting extensive research studies.

References

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[1]

World Health Organization. WHO. WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID - 19. 11 March 2020,[Internet]. Genebra: World Health Organization; 2020 [cited 2020 Jun 10]. 2.

[2]

Detoc M, Bruel S, Frappe P, Tardy B, Botelho-Nevers E, GagneuxBrunon A. Intention to participate in a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial and to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in France during the pandemic.

Vaccine. 2020 Oct 21;38(45):7002-6.

[3]

Nicola M, Alsafi Z, Sohrabi C, Kerwan A, Al-Jabir A, Iosifidis C, et al. The socio-economic implications of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19): a review. Int J Surg. (2020) 78:185–93. doi:

10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.04.018

[4]

Chen D, Xu W, Lei Z, Huang Z, Liu J, Gao Z, et al. Recurrence of positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA in COVID- 19: a case report. Int J Infect Dis. (2020) 93:297–9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.03.003

[5]

COCONEL Group. A future vaccination campaign against COVID-19 at risk of vaccine hesitancy and politicisation. The Lancet. Infectious diseases. 2020 Jul;20(7):769.

[6]

Ward JK, Alleaume C, Peretti-Watel P. The French public’s attitudes to a future COVID-19 vaccine: the politicization of a public health issue.

[7]

Mannan, Farhana, Khandaker. (2020). Knowledge, Attitude and Acceptance of a COVID-19 Vaccine: A Global Cross-Sectional Study. 6. 1-23. 10.2139/ssrn.3763373.

[8]

Qerem Walid A, Jarab Anan S. Vaccination Acceptance and Its Associated Factors Among a Middle Eastern Population . Frontiers in Public Health. 2021; 9: 34

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