COVID Appropriate Behaviour compliance and Vaccine Hesitancy: Findings from a COVID-19 Health Education Campaign in a Government Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi, India

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Public health measures remain the best available approach to tackle the COVID pandemic. However, little is currently known about the compliance and acceptance of these measures by people in India. Methods The Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, organized a health education campaign for raising awareness on COVID-19 in the hospital premises over a period of 15 days in May2021. Educational and interactive sessions were conducted by medical residents, interns and staff. Data on compliance to public health measures was collected and analysed using SPSS 21. All quantitative variables were descriptively analysed while qualitative data was narratively analysed. Results 84(12.57%) of those observed were wearing their mask incorrectly. Social distancing was inadequate at 16 sites. 69(10.33%) reported to have received single or both doses of vaccine. Common reasons for not getting vaccinated included doubts about vaccine efficacy, eligibility, adverse events, availability and accessibility. Conclusions Mask usage was universal, but directives on correct protocol of wearing masks needs to be widely circulated. Credible information about vaccine safety, efficacy, availability and accessibility needs to be available to the community to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccination.