Exploring the Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in India: What Can We Learn From the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Scoping Review

Author(s)

Yoanna Todorova, MSc1, Kate Cullen, PhD2, Mitun Patel, MSc2.
1King's College London, London, United Kingdom, 2Red Nucleus, London, United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVES: Vaccinations emerged as the most promising intervention to achieve herd immunity and control the COVID-19 pandemic. In India, vaccine uptake has been a challenge historically and, in the context of COVID-19, it was challenged by a low initial vaccine uptake despite vaccine availability. A significant barrier to this was attributed to vaccine hesitancy - a complex issue influenced by various factors including knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and social factors. This study aims to better understand COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in India, identify strategies to tackle vaccine hesitancy and improve uptake, and inform future research.
METHODS: Studies published between 2020-2024 that examined the influence of socioeconomic factors (i.e., education, occupation, income, rural/urban residence and SES as an overall measure) on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in India, study characteristics, and reasons associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy were extracted and synthesised.
RESULTS: Socioeconomic factors, such as low levels of education, low qualification jobs, low income, low SES and rural residence have a significant impact on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, though evidence is conflicting. Various reasons associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy are described, but there is limited literature investigating their association with socioeconomic factors. Study design, geographical coverage and sampling method varied between studies and validated measurement tools to conceptualize COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy are not widely employed.
CONCLUSIONS: Vaccine hesitancy continues to be a significant public health concern, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ongoing challenge of vaccine hesitancy requires a multi-faceted approach, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of public perceptions and attitudes. By conducting longitudinal studies, improving sampling methods, and exploring the experiences of underrepresented populations, future research can provide valuable insights into how to reduce vaccine hesitancy. For pharmaceutical companies, these findings emphasize the importance of trust-building, targeted interventions, and equity-focused strategies to improve vaccine acceptance and increase public health outcomes.

Conference/Value in Health Info

2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland

Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2

Code

EPH109

Topic

Epidemiology & Public Health

Topic Subcategory

Public Health

Disease

Vaccines

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