COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy amongst residents of an urban field practice area: A cross-sectional survey

Background: Vaccines provide a crucial role in decreasing disease severity in COVID-19 infection. However, the accelerated pace of vaccine development has heightened public anxieties and could compromise acceptance. The World Health Organization has identified vaccine hesitancy as one of the top ten global health threats. There needs to be more community-based data on the causes of vaccine hesitancy of COVID vaccine in India, especially in the Eastern part. Aims: In this study, we intended to estimate the proportion of vaccine hesitancy in the community and elicit the reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy amongst the population of a slum in Kolkata. Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive observational study, cross-sectional in design conducted in the urban field practice area of a Tertiary Care Centre in Kolkata. Data were collected on the demography of the participants, awareness about COVID-19 and vaccination, willingness to accept the vaccine and willingness to pay for the COVID vaccine. Results: Most participants were willing to take the vaccine (73.95%). Amongst those who were not willing to take the vaccine (26.04%), the most common reason for not taking the vaccine was the concern about efficacy and safety. The willingness to pay for a single dose of the COVID vaccine ranged between 100 INR and 2000 INR with a median value of 250 INR. Conclusion: Transparent communication by the Government addressing the concerns of beneficiaries regarding vaccination may benefit the ongoing vaccination drive.