Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Abstract BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease rapidly spreads across the entire world in < 2 months and
gravely jeopardizes the regular human routine. The medical fraternity recommends a vaccine as one
of the best solutions to save the universe. However, to be effective, the population should reflect an
encouraging attitude to accept it. The study aimed to measure vaccine acceptability and reason for
hesitancy among the public.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight hundred and forty one adults visiting a tertiary care hospital
responded to a pretested validated questionnaire on vaccine acceptability and hesitancy. The Chi‑square
test and independent t‑test, followed by multinomial logistic regression, were used to analyze the findings.
RESULTS: Overall, 53.4% (n = 445) of participants interested to take vaccine, 27.2% (n = 229)
were not sure, and the remaining 19.4% (n = 163) did not intent to vaccinate. Gender (P = 0.013),
information on the vaccine (P = 0.022), chances to get coronavirus disease in the next 6
months (P < 0.001), awareness on India COVID‑19 vaccine (P < 0.001), Indian manufacturing
company of vaccine (P < 0.001), family history of the laboratory‑confirmed case (P < 0.001), and
health status (P = 0.011) found a significant association with intention to vaccination (a response
“yes” vs. “no” and “not sure”). Reasons for vaccine hesitancy included specific antivaccine attitudes
and beliefs, a concern of fear and phobia, lack of information, and safety issues on the vaccine.
CONCLUSIONS: This institute‑specific survey revealed that approximately every 4 in 8 people were
not sure to take the vaccine, and one in five people refused to be vaccinated. The study recommends
using target‑based health education to understand and address vaccine‑specific concerns to enhance
vaccine coverage, and boost confidence among the population.

Abstract BACKGROUND: COVID‑19 was declared an emergency of international concern by the World Health
Organization in 2020. This study assesses patients’ awareness, perception, and mitigating measures
taken during the COVID‑19 outbreak visiting an apex tertiary health‑care center in North India.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑sectional study was conducted between September 15,
2020, and November 15, 2020, in a tertiary care public hospital, North India, using a structured
self‑administered questionnaire. The survey included 809 patients using a consecutive sampling
strategy. The self‑structured and prevalidated questionnaire was used to collect information on
study variables. Chi‑square test and independent samples t‑test, followed by binary and multivariate
logistic regression, was used to determine the factors associated with awareness toward COVID‑19.
RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 32.41 (±11.24) years. Multivariate logistic regression
shows that married participants (OR: 0.660, 95 % CI: 0.440-0.989, P= 0.044), reading books/
magazine or attended institutional lectures (OR: 2.241, 95% CI: 1.545–3.249, P = 0.001), and watching
television and radio (OR: 1.824, 95% CI: 1.283–2.592, P = 0.001) are significantly more aware than
their counterparts. Participants with higher income group (>20,000 Indian rupee) significantly had
higher awareness than participants having salary <10,000 rupees (OR: 0.280, 95% CI: 0.178–0.440,
P = 0.001) or 10,001–20,000 rupees (OR: 0.481, 95% CI: 0.297–0.777, P = 0.003). Patients
avoiding traveling across or abroad had significantly much reasonably good awareness than their
counterparts (OR: 0.357, 95% CI: 0.139–0.918, P = 0.033).
CONCLUSIONS: Participants demonstrated good awareness, encouraging perception, and complied
with appropriate mitigating measures during the outbreak. Considering frequent waves and the
pandemic’s long duration, consistent reinforcement of government measures, including masks,
maintaining social distance, and frequent handwashing, is much needed.