Assessment of attitude and hesitancy toward vaccine against COVID-19 in a Pakistani population: A mix methods survey

Z A Khan; R Allana; I Afzal; A S Ali; O Mariam; R Aslam; I A Shah; A Allana; M M Haider; R Jandani; Z Khan; A M Siddiqui; J A Shah; U Butt

doi:10.1016/j.vacun.2021.08.002

Assessment of attitude and hesitancy toward vaccine against COVID-19 in a Pakistani population: A mix methods survey

Vacunas. 2022 May:23:S26-S32. doi: 10.1016/j.vacun.2021.08.002. Epub 2021 Sep 7.

Authors

Z A Khan¹, R Allana², I Afzal³, A S Ali⁴, O Mariam⁵, R Aslam⁵, I A Shah⁶, A Allana⁷, M M Haider⁸, R Jandani⁹, Z Khan¹⁰, A M Siddiqui¹¹, J A Shah¹², U Butt^{13

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Affiliations

¹ Research Lead, Research and Development Department, AO Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
² Research Associate, Department of Paediatrics, Agha Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
³ Research Lead, Academic Surgical Unit, South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre, London, UK.
⁴ Research Associate, Department of Medicine, Agha Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
⁵ Postgraduate Trainee in Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Dow University of Health Science, Karachi, Pakistan.
⁶ Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Medical Director, AO Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
⁷ MSc Candidate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Community Health Sciences, Agha Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
⁸ Lecturer, Department of Community Dentistry, Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan.
⁹ Lecturer, Dow Institute of Nursing and Midwifery, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
¹⁰ Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, AO Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
¹¹ Consultant Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon, Department of Spinal Surgery, A.O. Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan and Consultant Spinal Surgeon, Guys and St Thomas's NHS Trust, UK.
¹² Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon, AO Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
¹³ Sports Injury Unit, AO Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
¹⁴ Circle Bath Hospital, UK.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the attitude and hesitancy toward vaccine against COVID-19 in a Pakistani Population.

Materials and methods: A mix-method, prospective study was conducted and adults (aged ≥18 years) residing in Pakistan were invited to participate. The questionnaire was prepared, hosted in Google Forms and circulated through electronic platforms and was also available to be done in in-person. Data was compiled from 15th September to 30th November 2020.

Results: The response rate was 80%. A total of 1003 participants were included in the final analysis. Of them, 75% completed survey questionnaire online, while remaining 25% responded in-person. The mean age of the participants was 29.62 ± 10.47 years. The majority of participants were females; 60.9% (n = 611). 57.02% (n = 572) of the participants were employed at the time of survey. Overall, 70.68% (n = 709) of the participants had previous experience of vaccines such as the flu vaccine Only 4.9% (n = 49) participants thought that they will be seriously ill from COVID-19 within six months and 39% (n = 392) participants were confident that they will get COVID-19. A total of 71.29% of the participants reported they would consider getting vaccinated once available. There was statistical association between gender and getting vaccinated (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that majority of the participants showed positive attitude toward considering COVID-19 vaccine. However awareness with informed knowledge of efficacy, possible adverse effects and cost would be of added great value to increase the real response of Pakistani population toward COVID-19 vaccination.

Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la actitud y la renuencia hacia la vacuna frente a la COVID-19 en una población paquistaní.

Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo de método mixto, invitándose a participar a personas adultas (edad ≥18 años) residentes en Paquistán. Se preparó el cuestionario, que se alojó en Google Forms y se hizo circular a través de plataformas electrónicas, pudiendo realizarse también de manera personal. Los datos se recopilaron desde el 15 de septiembre al 30 de noviembre de 2020.

Resultados: La tasa de respuesta fue del 80%. El análisis final incluyó un total de 1.003 participantes, de los cuales el 75% completó el cuestionario-encuesta online, mientras que el 25% respondió en persona. La edad media de los participantes fue de 29,62 ± 10,47 años. La mayoría de los participantes eran mujeres: el 60,9% (n = 611). El 57,02% (n = 572) de los participantes tenía empleo en el momento de la encuesta. En general, el 70,68% (n = 709) de los participantes tenía experiencia previa sobre vacunas tales como la vacuna frente a la gripe. Solo el 4,9% (n = 49) de los participantes pensaba que padecerían la COVID-19 de forma grave en el plazo de seis meses, y el 39% (n = 392) de los participantes estaba seguro de que se contagiaría de dicha enfermedad. El 71,29% de los participantes reportó que consideraría recibir la vacuna una vez que se dispusiera de la misma. Existió una asociación estadística entre el sexo y el ser vacunado (P< 0,001).

Conclusión: Este estudio demostró que la mayoría de los participantes mostró una actitud positiva hacia la consideración de la vacuna frente a la COVID-19. Sin embargo, la concienciación sobre el conocimiento informado de la vacuna, los posibles efectos adversos y el coste supondrían un gran valor añadido al incremento de la respuesta real de la población paquistaní hacia la vacuna frente a la COVID-19.

Keywords: Attitude; COVID-19; Hesitancy; Mix method; Pakistan; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccine.

Abstract in English, Spanish

Abstract
in English, Spanish