Staff Reporter :
A latest survey conducted by the University of Dhaka (DU) has found that about 32% people are interested to take Covid-19 vaccines at the very beginning of the countrywide inoculation scheduled to start from February 8.
Meanwhile, a previous survey carried out by North South University (NSU) said about 74.6% people are interested to take the free Corona vaccine after getting feedback on its effectiveness. The DU’s Institute of Health Economics (IHE) and Bangladesh Como Modeling Team jointly conducted the study between January 10 and 25.
A majority of the people around 52 per cent, however, want to take the vaccine a few weeks or months later.
On the other hand, some 16 per cent people said they will not take the vaccine at all, revealed the survey conducted on among 3,560 people from 16 upazilas of eight divisions and two city corporations of Dhaka city.
“This is the first round of our survey. We will start the second round after the vaccination starts,” said Dr Shafiun Shimul, member of the study team and an associate professor of IHE.
They will continue the study to explore the aftermath of the first vaccination run scheduled for launching Today in the capital and on February 8 across the country, researchers said.
However, eagerness to take vaccine was more evident among rural people than in urban areas, the study revealed.
Earlier, the NSU released the study findings over the vaccination survey from its Global Health Institute on January 24.
According to their study, about 74.6 per cent people are interested to take the vaccine after getting feedback on effectiveness of the free vaccine.
In that survey, office-goers showed the highest interest to participate in the national corona vaccination programme across the country while the day-labourers show the lowest.
The research got input from the NSU faculty, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), the Rangpur- Hypertension and Research Center and the Bangladesh Centre for Injury Prevention and Research (CIPRB).
Between December 12, 2020 and January 7, 2021, a total of 3,647 people were included in the survey. The response rate was 81 per cent.
Around 74 per cent people under 30 years of age showed interest to take vaccine.
Interests of people from age group 31-40 years and 41-50 years of age are 73 per cent and 78 per cent respectively.
Except for urban slums, city people showed the highest interest to take the vaccine.
Some 17.6 per cent respondents of the study mentioned that they have planned to take the vaccine while 7.8 percent individuals are reluctant on the issue.
The study found that the interest of the day labourers to take vaccine is alarmingly low.
On the other hand, around 82 per cent office-based employees showed highest interest to take vaccine.
Besides, some 81 per cent of medical doctors and nurses are willing to take the vaccine.
Interest of people from 51-60 age groups is 68 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Corona vaccination program will be inaugurated in city’s Kurmitola Hospital today at 3:30 pm. A total of 20 persons will be vaccinated on that day.
However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the program virtually and witness vaccination of the first five persons.
