Attitude and Awareness of Pakistani Population Towards COVID-19 Vaccination

Abstract

Background: The novel-corona virus (COVID-19) is a single-stranded RNA virus that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome in last three years. The WHO declared it as a pandemic in March 2020, and recommends immunizing against this viral infection.  Many vaccines are now available globally.

Objective: Current research work was carried out to investigate about the attitude and awareness of Pakistani population towards COVID-19 vaccination.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Karachi from May-2021 to July-2021. Data has been collected from 391 respondents by designed questionnaire. Ethical Review Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hamdard University approved the study (Reference No. UERC-2021-012). Informed consent was obtained from each participant. Collected data was analyzed by SPSS version 22.

Results: Three-hundred-ninety-one (N=391) respondents included in analysis. Male 39.60% (n=155), Female 60.40% (n=236). Education level; 0.50% (n=02) Primary, 1.50% (n=06) Secondary, 1.80% (n=06) Matric, 15.10% (n=59) Inter, 63.80% (n=250) Graduate and 17.60% (n=69) Post-Graduate. 88.10% (n=347) respondents were not having any chronic disease. Among chronic diseases; 9.30% (n=03) have Diabetes-Mellitus, 10.30% (n=04) have Hypertension and 77.60% (n=28) have other chronic disease. 95.10% (n=372) respondents are aware of COVID-19 infection, 83.70% (n=329) have vaccine information, 61.50% (n=233) believe that COVID-19 vaccination is a prevention against virus. Majority of respondents (90.60%) are not vaccinated yet and only almost half (55.10%) of them are willing to get vaccination. Respondents’ preferred Chinese vaccine SinoPharm 49.80% (n164) over other vaccines.   

Conclusion: Majority of Pakistani population is well aware about COVID-19 infection and prefers to get Chinese vaccine over vaccine of other countries.