Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Potential vaccine hesitancy regarding COVID‑19 vaccines in Kashmiri population

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Syed Najmul Ain 1
. Rabia Ahmad 1
. Reyana Qulsum 2
. Mohamad Azhar Gilani 3

1 Senior Resident at The Department of Community Medicine, GMC, Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, India

2 Senior Resident at The Department of Community Medicine, SKIMS Soura, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

3 Post‑graduate Student at the Department of Orthopaedics SKIMS Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Abstract
BACKGROUND: India is all set to begin vaccination against COVID‑19. A good number of people
are falling prey to anti‑vaccination campaigns, and therefore, some amount of vaccine hesitancy
must have developed. The primary objective of the study was to find the level of potential COVID‑19
vaccine hesitancy in Kashmiri population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross‑sectional study conducted in the valley of Kashmir.
A predesigned questionnaire was shared online. The participation of respondents was voluntary.
Exclusions were made on account of residence outside Kashmir valley, duplicate forms, and wrong
information. The data were entered into Microsoft Excel 2010 and analyzed using SPSS version 23.
RESULTS: A total of 487 respondents were included. About 67% of the participants were in the age
group of ≤30 years, 55% female, 54% rural, and 16% had ever been COVID‑19 positive. About
14% of the participants were completely hesitant about receiving the COVID‑19 vaccine, whereas
40% were unsure if they will accept the vaccination. The main reason for the total nonacceptance of
the vaccine was the doubts about the safety of COVID‑19 vaccines (67%). Urban people were more
likely to be hesitant to the vaccine than rural people (odds ratio [OR] 1.845, confidence interval CI
1.022 to 3.333). Those who were ever COVID‑19 positive were 3.3 times more likely to say “no” to
COVID‑19 vaccination than those who were never positive.
CONCLUSION: Strategic steps must be taken to minimize the vaccine hesitancy associated with
COVID‑19 vaccination. Authorities should direct efforts toward vaccine education, creating awareness
among people about the importance of COVID‑19 vaccination.

Keywords

Behaviour
compliance
COVID‑19
vaccine
1. Craven J. COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker. Available from: htttps://
www.raps.org/news-and-articles/news-articles/2020/3/
covid-19-vaccine-tracker. [Last accessed on 2021 Jan 02].
2. Mundra A, Garg B. Prospects of vaccine against COVID - 19.
Indian J Community Med 2020;45:391-5.
3. TIMESOFINDIA.COM. Dry run of COVID-19 Vaccine in all
States Today: All You Need to Know; 2021. Available from:
htttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dry-run-of-covid19-vaccine-to-begin-in-all-states-today-all-you-need-to-know/
articleshow/80067553.cms. [Last accessed on 2021 Jan 02].
4. Georgiou N, Delfabbro P, Balzan R. COVID-19-related conspiracy
beliefs and their relationship with perceived stress and preexisting conspiracy beliefs. Pers Individ Dif 2020;166https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.paid0.2020.110201.
5. Lazarus JV, Ratzan SC, Palayew A, Gostin LO, Larson HJ, Rabin K,
et al. A global survey of potential acceptance of a COVID-19
vaccine. Nat Med 2021;27:225-8.
6. Larson HJ, Jarrett C, Eckersberger E, Smith DMD, Paterson P.
Understanding vaccine hesitancy around vaccines and
vaccination from a global perspective : A systematic review of
published literature, 2007 – 2012. Vaccine 2014;32:2150-9.
7. Hursh SR, Strickland JC, Schwartz LP, Reed DD. Quantifying
the impact of public perceptions on vaccine acceptance using
behavioral economics. Front Public Health 2020;8.doi: 10.3389/
fpubh. 2020.608852
8. Chou WS, Budenz A. Considering emotion in COVID-19 vaccine
communication: Addressing vaccine hesitancy and fostering
vaccine confidence. Health Commun 2020;35:1718-22.
9. Chan PKS, Lui G, Hachim A, Ko RLW, Boon SS, Li T, et al.
Serologic responses in healthy adult with SARS-CoV-2 reinfection,
Hong Kong, August 2020. Emerg Infect Dis 2020;26:3076-8.
10. Overbaugh J. Understanding protection from SARS-CoV-2 by
studying reinfection. Nat Med 2020;26:1680-1.
11. Toy S, Hernandez D. Should people who have had Covid-19
wait to get a vaccine? The Wall Street Journal; 2020.https://
www.livemint.com/news/world/should-people-who-have-hadcovid-19-wait-to-get-a-vaccine-11608634309645.html. [Last cited
on 2021 Jan 02].
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 11, Issue 10
November 2021
Pages 1-6

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us