COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Antenatal Women in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi

Abstract

Pregnant women were considered among the most vulnerable population during the Covid-19 pandemic. Among various modalities to curtail the nuisance of the virus, the most important measure was the introduction of the vaccine. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the outpatient department of obstetrics and gynaecology of a tertiary care hospital in Delhi over two months (July-August 2022). The most common reasons cited by pregnant women for not taking the vaccine were safety issues of the vaccine for the fetus in 69.5%, lack of awareness about the vaccine availability and its benefits in 23.1% and resistance from family members in 7.2%. We as obstetricians hold the prime responsibility of breaking the obstacles that come between the advantage of the vaccine on one hand and the concern the mother has for her baby in utero on the other by proper counselling.