Perceptions Regarding Covid-19 Vaccine Among Undergraduate Medical Students In Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Background Studies have shown that physician's advice is among the most important predictors of whether or not a person will take immunizations. The impressions of new COVID-19 vaccinations among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan, and the factors which influence their judgments were investigated in this study. Methods A 6-item validated questionnaire was administered to 2500 undergraduate medical students of MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) studying in seven different medical colleges of Karachi between December 2020 to May 2021. Results 2500 students received the survey and 1464 responded (58.56%). About 60% of those responded said there was no link between vaccines and chronic illnesses. To control COVID-19, all participants said it was critical to vaccinate the broader population. Besides a large number of participants (almost 72%) were optimistic about the safety issue of vaccination. Almost all of the respondents (99.66%) think that it is of top most importance to vaccinate the population in order to control infection spread whereas 75.48% believed that COVID-19 vaccine is safe to use. A large majority (97.20%) were willing to get vaccinated. Conclusions Our findings indicate that MBBS learners have a favourable attitude towards to the COVID-19 vaccine, with the majority of them willing to promote it to others. Almost two-thirds of them indicated that they would be willing to be vaccinated. It may raise the general public's acceptance rate and better immunization rates which shall help in eradication of Covid-19 from Pakistan.