A cross sectional survey: Attitude towards adult vaccination in Karachi-Pakistan

As per the estimates of National Interview Health Survey (NHIS) -2012, adult vaccination is extensively ignored and a very less number of adults could receive recommended vaccine doses. Thus, a cross sectional study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge and attitude towards adult vaccination programs among the adult citizens of Karachi, Pakistan. The survey covered about 54.28% of the total areas of Karachi, Pakistan. A questionnaire comprising of 11 questions was designed and a total of 500 individuals ranging from 11-61 years of age participated in the study. Responses to each question were statistically analyzed and the associations between different variables were established using SPSS 16. According to the results, majority (93.4%) of the individuals considered vaccines safe for health and more than 80% agreed that adult immunization is as necessary as child immunization however, a significant difference (p<0.05) was noticed between the vaccination schedule follow up rates during childhood and adulthood and only a few individuals could receive the recommended adult vaccines. A significant association (p<0.05) was also found between the frequency of infections and the factors that may affect the efficiency of immune system such as sleeping disorders, smoking, persistent depression/anxiety, alcohol intake and the use of anti-depressive drugs/steroids/cortisones. Results showed that a number of reasons may increase the reluctance of people towards any vaccination program such as the cost, risk of quality assurance and requirement of booster doses. Thus, the study emphasizes on the need of awareness programs for adult vaccination as the lack of awareness and ignorance in this sector may render masses susceptible to serious & life threatening infections.