An Indian Community Survey to Assess Reasons for Influenza Vaccine Hesitancy in India

Background: Influenza, commonly known as Flu, is caused by four types of Influenza viruses-Type A, Type B, Type C, and Type D. In India, the Flu vaccine is not being optimally utilized though there has been a lot of focus on the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. Objective: This study aims to assess the awareness level of the general Indian population regarding Flu and the Flu vaccine and determine the reasons for Flu vaccine hesitancy. Method: In consultation with physicians, an online survey was framed and circulated to 1000 people across various Indian states through electronic media from September 2020 to December 2020. Results: The data obtained from the survey reveals that most people do not consider Flu vaccine as the best strategy to prevent Flu infection. People attributed vaccine hesitancy to lack of clear government policies for mass vaccination, few prescriptions by physicians, high cost, lack of awareness amongst people, and risk of side effects of Flu vaccine. Conclusion: Widely prevalent myths across the nation regarding Flu and its vaccine, therefore, highlight the need of spreading awareness through social media and digital tools to reduce Flu vaccine hesitancy in India. Further studies need to be performed at a larger scale to understand and address the Flu vaccine hesitancy in a more effective manner.