Public Perception and Potential Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine in India

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)virus, has led to a substantial loss of human life and the global economy, and presents anunprecedented collapse of the public health systems worldwide. The sped-up advancement of theCOVID-19 vaccine is an important development. Data from the early trials suggest that the vaccineis safe as well as effective. However, the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among the publicdepends on various socio-demographic factors. The primary aim of the study is to get a deeperunderstanding and analysis of the public's perception, information and sentiment towards theCOVID-19 vaccine in India.

We can see how maintaining social distance norms and using secure personal protective equipment with national lockdowns over a prolonged period is There are many types of vaccines, each with its genetic mechanism for developing and enhancing   agreed that vaccination is the best way to avoid severe threats from the COVID-19 virus. [13] COVID-19 vaccine acceptance Sci. 2020; 8:S210-8 11 [13] The vaccine acceptance was found to be good, with 86.3% of participants planning to get vaccinated whenever the vaccine becomes available, whereas 13.7% of the participants did not want to get vaccinated. 'However, the percentage of participants ready to get themselves vaccinated as soon as a vaccine is ready and available was only 65.8%.

32.2% of the participants gave preference to an
Indian vaccine, while 7.5% preferred an imported one. The majority (60.4%) reported that they do not care about the country of origin of the vaccine.
We can see that more than three-fourths of the respondents were positive about receiving the vaccination; whereas, only two-third were intending to accept it as soon as possible when the vaccine became available. [13] Barriers associated with the COVID-19 vaccine For most (64.4%), the main concern was regarding the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. 20.2% of the respondents were not confident about the efficacy of vaccination, while 12% believed that the COVID-19 vaccine is some conspiracy. A significant number (25.4%) had other reasons preventing them from getting themselves vaccinated. [13] Factors that can improve COVID-19 vaccine acceptance Methods to Improve Vaccine Acceptance Public willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccine depends on the knowledge and sentiment regarding the vaccine. The accelerated development of the vaccine might have contributed to the rise of concerns and negative attitudes among the general public. Vaccine awareness and its acceptance depend on various socio-demographic factors. The biggest barrier towards vaccine acceptance is the concern regarding mild or serious side effects following vaccination.
The following are few ways in which vaccine acceptance can be improved: The government and local authorities should take the initiative through social media engagement and alleviate concerns regarding vaccine-related issues like safety and efficacy while providing correct information. They should also try to resolve community-based problems like false beliefs, lack of knowledge and mistrust.
Sharing correct information by local and community leaders, celebrities, and public figures can motivate the general public to accept the vaccine soon.
Promoting confidence and supporting the healthcare workers in their decision to get vaccinated and also to recommend it to their patients. As we saw in the above case studies, a doctor's recommendation is an important factor that can help people get rid of their misinformation and concerns regarding vaccination.
If more studies confirm the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, especially for the newer strains of the coronavirus, and if such information is made available via a centralized source of information, it may resolve many vaccine-related concerns among the public.
Interventional education campaigns targeted at those who are at a higher risk for vaccine hesitancy and more susceptible to misinformation are essential.
More studies aimed at understanding factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy are also necessary to help public health policymakers make more efficient strategies to implement the public vaccination program. [15] Public Health Review -International Journal of Public Health Research 2021;8(2) The vaccine acceptance rates vary across different countries according to various socio-demographic, community and psychological factors. The main concerns preventing the public from getting vaccinated are associated with short-term or longterm side effects, safety and necessity of the vaccines. Beliefs such as vaccination is not required for certain age groups are also dangerous. Better acceptance rates can be achieved if more rigorous studies prove that vaccines are safe and effective.
Along with that, targeted awareness strategies can be useful in resolving vaccine-related concerns among the public. The sooner people accept the COVID-19 vaccine, the sooner the world will come out of the pandemic.