VACCINATION COVERAGE AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKER IN A GOVERNMENT CANCER HOSPITAL IN EASTERN UTTAR PRADESH IN INDIA

Abstract

Intro: India began the world's largest vaccination programme for Covid-19 on 16 Jan 2021. Two vaccines used for this drive were Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. Our institute an upcoming state of art cancer centre in eastern Uttar Pradesh and acted as a centre for vaccination. The health ministry targeted to vaccinate four priority groups in its first phase: healthcare workers, frontline workers, people> 60 yrs and < 60 yrs with comorbidities. Methods: A prospective observational survey was done to find out vaccine coverage (COVISHIELD) for the HCW and staff (n= 335) at Super speciality cancer institute, Lucknow. It was conducted over a period of 3 months i.e, from Jan 2021 to march 2021. Data that were collected included age, gender, occupation, post vaccination symptoms, number of 1st dose and 2nd dose beneficiaries, post vaccination covid 19 infection after 2nd dose Findings: A total of 336 HCW in this institute were eligible for vaccination including faculty, residents, nursing staff, attendant, other supporting staff. Majority belonged to age group 15 to 30 years (n=175) followed by 31 to 45 years (n=121), 46-65 years(n=39). Vaccine hesitancy were seen among 68 HCW. While 31 skipped vaccination due to pregnancy, lactation, out of station, accidents and technical error. Most of the HCW had post vaccination symptoms: Tiredness 45%, myalgia 49 %, Fever 34%, headache 32%, local pain at injection site 30%, joint pain 10%, nausea 6%, diarrhoea 3%. Among those who reported symptoms 79 % notices within first 12 hrs with no serious events reported. These symptoms were consistent with an immune response commonly associated with vaccine. Post vaccination mild COVID 19 infection after 2nd dose were seen in 22 HCW and required no hospitalisation. Conclusion: Vaccination of HCW in oncology setting is critical in managing an immunocompromised host population. Vaccination coverage was 87.4% for 1st dose and 70.4% 2nd dose, showing its successful implementation.