COVID-19 vaccination status and willingness for further booster doses among staff and students of a tertiary care institute
Keywords:
Covid-19 vaccine, booster vaccine, vaccine acceptanceAbstract
Background
Vaccination remains the mainstay of COVID-19 prevention. While initial vaccine acceptance was high among healthcare workers (HCWs), the emergence of new variants and waning immunity necessitated vaccine boosters. The study aimed to assess the COVID-19 vaccination status and willingness for further booster doses among the staff and medical students in a tertiary care institute.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, technicians), ancillary staff, and students. An online semi-structured questionnaire collected information from participants regarding sociodemographic characteristics, history of COVID-19 vaccination, acceptance and uptake of vaccine booster, and reasons for willingness to uptake booster. The Chi-square test assessed the association between sociodemographic variables and booster acceptance.
Results
About 302 people participated in the survey. The mean (S.D.) age of the participants was 28.9 (8.3) years and most of them were females. The majority of them had received the Covishield vaccine (71.5%). Half of them had already received a COVID-19 booster. Seven out of ten participants expressed willingness to receive further booster doses. Type of employment and department were significantly associated with participants' willingness. The perception of the COVID-19 vaccine as an immunity booster was a key motivator. About 15.1% of participants expressed a preference for a nasal booster for its convenience in administration.
Conclusion
The study highlights a high willingness for COVID-19 vaccine boosters among healthcare professionals and medical students. It emphasizes the importance of continuous efforts to promote vaccine boosters, given the crucial role of the medical community in shaping public perception.
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