While the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) gave a green signal to Oxford-Astrazeneca’s and Serum Institute of India’s Covishield, along with Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin last week over 60% Indians are in no rush to take the vaccine.
The survey was conducted by LocalCircles (a community social media platform) where it received 8723 responses to the question ‘The first COVID-19 vaccine in India now stands approved. What will be your approach to taking this vaccine?’ While only 26% of citizens said they will get the vaccine as soon as it becomes available via private or other healthcare channels 5% said they are health or frontline workers and will get themselves vaccinated on priority through government channels.
Though two vaccines have been given a green signal by DCGI, people are still sceptical about the efficacy and the side-effects of the vaccine and few experts warn of lack of transparency regarding the approval process.
In a survey conducted in October 2020, the percentage of Indians hesitant to take the COVID-19 vaccine stood at 61%, while it reduced to 59% in the November survey owing to positive results on efficacy levels of vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna.
Another survey also revealed that 61% of citizens would want the central government to get Pfizer and Moderna to conduct COVID-19 trials in the country so they can also be available commercially at the earliest.
