Vaccine Hesitancy Rapid Survey by SNEHA June-2021

The "Vaccine Hesitancy Rapid Survey" conducted by SNEHA in June 2021 aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among residents of urban slums in Mumbai, India. The survey involved 1,058 respondents from five slums and explored their willingness to receive the vaccine, reasons for hesitancy, and the challenges they faced in the vaccination process. The majority of respondents were between 18-44 years old, with slightly more males than females. A significant portion of the respondents expressed willingness to get vaccinated, but a notable 37.7% were either unwilling or unsure about taking the vaccine.

Key reasons for vaccine hesitancy included concerns about side effects, lack of trust in the vaccine, and fear of vaccines. Many respondents also highlighted the complexity of the registration process on the Co-WIN application and the need for assistance in navigating this process. Trusted sources of information were primarily healthcare workers, family, and friends, although a portion of respondents expressed distrust in any sources.

The survey emphasized the importance of a strong public health communication strategy to address misinformation, ease anxieties about vaccine safety, and simplify the vaccination process, particularly the registration on Co-WIN. The findings suggest that with proper support and reliable information, a significant majority of the population could be encouraged to get vaccinated, thereby increasing vaccine coverage and contributing to community immunity.