A community-based study on willingness and predictors to receive precautionary dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Puducherry

Abstract

Introduction: World Health Organization has proposed yearly boosters for high-risk adults and biannual boosters for the general population. Research on the acceptance of current COVID-19 immunization has been done, but only a little information is available on booster dose acceptance in India. The objectives of this study were to assess the willingness to receive precautionary doses of the vaccine among adults and to identify the sociodemographic predictors to receive precautionary doses of the vaccine among adults who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Puducherry.Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted for 2 months in the field practice area of a private medical college in Puducherry. Individuals, ≥18 years residing for >6 months in the selected villages/wards and willing to give consent were included in the study. Individuals with absolute/relative contraindications for COVID-19 vaccination were excluded from the study. The sample size was 632, and a multistage sampling technique was employed. A semi-structured questionnaire was utilized for face-to-face interviews.Results: Among 632, 86.4% were vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Out of 609 adults who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, 83.6% exhibited willingness to receive precautionary doses of the vaccine. Common factors influencing willingness to receive precautionary doses of the vaccine among adults who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 which were fear of postvaccine complications in 37%, less awareness about the precautionary dose among 14%, waiting for others to get vaccinated first in 7%, and 2% expressed as their personal desire for not being vaccinated. Education and socioeconomic status of the individuals were found to be significantly associated (P < 0.05) with the willingness to receive precautionary doses. Gender, marital status, and residence of the study population were significantly associated with higher odds for willingness to receive precautionary doses.Conclusion: Most of the adult population in this study completed the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and were willing to receive a third dose.The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Practice-based learning and improvement, Patient care and procedural skills, Systems-based practice, Medical knowledge, Interpersonal and communication skills, and Professionalism.