Abstract

Amidst the covid-19 pandemic, vaccination plays a crucial role to mitigate the spread of the virus and its adverse effects on public health. With widespread rollout of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines that have received emergency use authorization by the WHO across the world, understanding dynamics of vaccines among various demographics is important for vaccine acceptance and to enhance vaccine uptake and address vaccine hesitancy effectively. The goal of this study is to explore the impact of Covid-19 vaccine on health of different age group individuals across Goa (India). Using a comprehensive survey methodology, data was collected involving participants from diverse age brackets ranging from young adults to the elderly, residing in different regions of Goa regarding vaccination status, reasons for vaccine acceptance or hesitancy, experiences with side effects, and overall perception of vaccine efficacy. Additionally, it also focuses on the emergence of mutant strains of the virus and waning of vaccine effectiveness over a period of time. By analyzing the survey responses, pimples, fever, chest pain, cardiac attack, menstrual changes, pain at injection site were the most common symptoms documented. Statistical analysis using PSPP software and Microsoft excel worksheet showed association between age and adverse effects post vaccination concluding that as age increases adverse effects of the vaccine also increases. It was also reported that there is substantial association between the Covid-19 vaccine and its adverse effects. It also highlighted that booster dose uptake is relatively lower in Goa with the Covishield vaccine being more widely accepted compared to Covaxin among individuals.

Authors

Dilecta D’Costa, Pooja Dhuri
Government College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Khandola Marcela-Goa, India

Keywords

Sars-Cov2, Covid-19, Vaccine Effectiveness, Adverse Effects, Immunocompromised