ACCEPTANCE AND TOLERABILITY OF COVID-19 VACCINE IN HEALTHCARE WORKERS AT A GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE IN KARACHI PAKISTAN

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the acceptance and tolerability of the government sponsored COVID vaccine among health care workers (HCWs) in a public sector hospital in Karachi in the province of Sindh.

Material and Methods: This is a cross sectional study. Questionnaire based online proforma designed on Google Forms in the English language. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Institute of Trauma in Karachi, Pakistan over the 3 weeks’ study duration. The online form link was sent via short messaging service (SMS) to mobile phone numbers of HCWs. The survey was voluntary, confidential and anonymous.

Result: A total of 283 HCW’s submitted the online questionnaire. 184 (65%) expressed confidence in the vaccine, 99 (35%) had concerns regarding vaccination. 268 (94.7%) HCWs had received vaccination when surveyed. A significant number of HCWs who had been confident in the vaccine have recommended it to others (69% vs. 30%, p value <0.001). Concerns about vaccine related side effects were the most common apprehension (28.2%). Adverse effects were reported in 163 (60%) of which the most common were injection site pain in 58 (35.5%). HCWs that had fear of the vaccine were significantly more likely to experience adverse effects as compared to those who had confidence in the vaccine (p value 0.001).

Conclusion: Good vaccine acceptance in two-thirds of healthcare workers with the majority affirming that they will recommend it to others. No serious adverse events attributable to the vaccine were reported.

Keywords: COVID 19, Vaccine, Healthcare workers.