OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the incidence of hesitancy towards vaccination and to identify the factors and predictor variables within the study population.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study conducted on a web-based platform wherein a validated questionnaire was circulated among the general public to understand their hesitancy towards vaccination (covering18 different vaccines) and to provide inputs regarding the specific areas of concerns. WHO SAGE Working Group Questionnaire was used to collect the data. The predictors for hesitancy were determined by using bivariate logistic regression analysis and the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was identified. Strategies were developed to overcome hesitancy.

RESULTS

A total of 353 subjects (parents above 18 years) enrolled in the study during the 6 months period of the study. Among them 133 (37.67%) subjects showed vaccine hesitancy. Among the vaccines, maximum hesitancy was observed for chicken pox vaccine [47 (13.31%)], followed by TCV [25 (7.08%)] and Rota [24 (6.79%)], whereas the minimum hesitancy was observed for BCG [2 (0.56%)], OPV [4 (1.13%)] and IPV [8 (2.26%)]. Some of the reasons cited for vaccine hesitancy were (i) Did not think it was needed [163 (46.17%)], (ii) Did not think vaccine was safe [41 (11.61%)] and (iii) Did not know where to get vaccinated [24 (6.79%)]. On performing the bi-variate analysis it was found that among the subsets studied those who were more hesitant to receive vaccines were females (OR: 1.476); individuals who are widowed/separated/ divorced (OR: 3.109); those from age 40-49yrs (OR: 3.710); those from a rural background (OR: 1.277), less educated (not graduated (OR: 1.077). These subsets were predictors identified for vaccine hesitancy.

CONCLUSIONS

The study indicated that hesitancy is observed less in vaccines that are not mentioned in the Expanded Program on Immunization.