Covid-19 Vaccination Drive Among Dental Students: A Sweet and A Sour Encounter

Abstract

Since 1918 flu pandemic, novel human corona virus diseases has been documented as the fifth pandemic resulting in catastrophic events not only in terms of deaths and increased number of cases but also hampered the workplaces. Dental practitioners, due to the concise area of work are in direct contact and consequently at a higher risk for transmitting or acquiring this diseases. In this COVID era, vaccine hesitancy remains a greater barrier to the population inoculation against this highly dreadful and infectious disease. With the rapid development of the vaccine globally, major concerns about it acceptance and safety still remains a question. Thus the main Aim of our article was to assess the acceptance and hesitancy rates regarding COVID-19 vaccination among dental student, exploring their experience and creating an awareness program for counseling of hesitant subjects. Material and Methodology: randomized 100 under and post graduate dental students of Himachal Pradesh were selected and divided into two groups G1 with 50 vaccinated and G2 with 50 non vaccinated students. A well structured, online multiple choice questionnaire was formulated and distributed among them for recording the response. The data obtained was collected, tabulated and analyzed using Chi square test for the experience of subjects regarding vaccine. Results: when compared around 76% of the vaccinated respondents agreed about the fact of making vaccination mandatory for all while 90% of the non-vaccinated respondents were still confused about the same. Conclusion:  the results of our study highlighted for the need and awareness about the safety and effectiveness to promote the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine. Though made obligatory, there are still a huge number of people who still raise a question regarding the efficacy of the vaccine.  Keywords: Acceptance, Covid-19, Dentist, Hesitancy, Vaccine, Virus.