Motivational Factors and Post Vaccination Symptoms among COVID-19 Vaccinated Beneficiaries at a Tertiary Care Hospital, West Bengal, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Since the emergence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been an intense burden on the health system and economy worldwide with millions of people being affected leading to several deaths. In this scenario vaccination seems to be a hope to control the pandemic. However, fear of adverse events following immunisation sometimes makes people hesitant about vaccination. Aim: To assess the spectrum of post vaccination symptoms and also to identify the motivational factors along with their determinants at a tertiary care hospital, West Bengal, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the COVID-19 Vaccination Centre at Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata West Bengal, India (tertiary care hospital), from August 2021 to November 2021. A total of 448 vaccinated beneficiaries were enrolled in the study. Data collection was done by an online questionnaire, sent to the participants in their registered mobile numbers. Descriptive statistics and Chisquare tests were used for data analysis. Results: Among 448 study participants, 262 (58.5%) were in 18- 44 years of age group, 248(55.4%) female, 384 (85.7%) Hindu, 132 (29.5%) medical or paramedical students, 290 (64.7%) passed graduation and above and 306 (68.3%) belonged to nuclear family. About 228 (50.9%) beneficiaries reported post vaccination symptoms. Most common being local pain at injection site, found among 150 (65.8%) out of them. Most common motivational factors of COVID-19 vaccination were found to be fear of COVID-19 infection, reported by 274 (61.2%) participants, which showed significant difference with various age groups (p-value=0.001), religions (p-value=0.030), occupations (p-value<0.001) and educations (p-value=0.002). Statistical significant (p<0.05) differences were also found according to age, gender, co-morbidities, interval between vaccination and past COVID-19 infection and type of COVID-19 vaccine in relation to onset of post vaccination symptoms. Conclusion: Following COVID-19 immunisation minor adverse events were reported. Monitoring of those adverse events will help in further responding and prompt action. Also, the knowledge about motivational factors is expected to reduce vaccine hesitancy among unvaccinated people.