69% Indians hesitant to take Corona vaccine

New Delhi : The Drugs controller General of India (DCGI), on Sunday, announced approval of two vaccines -- Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin -- against coronavirus infection for restricted emergency use.

The survey conducted by 'LocalCircles' in January has concluded that Indians' hesitancy over Covid-19 vaccines remains unchanged in November and December 2020, with 69 per cent maintaining that they will not rush to take it.

To the question that received 8,723 responses, only 26 per cent of citizens said that they will get it as soon as it becomes available via private or any healthcare channels, while five per cent said they are for health or frontline workers and will get themselves vaccinated on priority through government channels.

The survey result indicated that the hesitancy of citizens remains unchanged at 69 per cent unwilling to take it despite two vaccines receiving the regulator's green signal for vaccination. India's drug regulator has reportedly given the green signal to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for administration on children above 12 years old.

When LocalCircles asked parents: "If the Covid-19 vaccine is made available for school children, would you consider giving it to your child or grandchild?" Only 26 per cent Indian parents approved of their children receiving the vaccine if it is made available by April 2021, or before school session.