A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON AWARENESS OF COVID-19 VACCINATION AMONG PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANCER

Background: Cancer is the major leading cause of death. People with cancer haveweakened immune system hence they are more vulnerable to Covid-19 infection. Vaccination is the best way to prevent Covid-19 infection and it mainly prevents community transmission.Covishield, Covaxin& Sputnik-V are type of vaccines available to produce immunity againstSARS-COV-2virus.

Objective: Toassesstheawarenessofcovid-19vaccinationamongpatientswithdifferenttypes ofcancer.

Method: It was prospective, Observational study conducted in Total 200 cancer patients from single tertiary care hospital were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to assess their knowledge about the vaccine, their readiness to be vaccinated and the determinants of their decision. Based onType of cancer the study population was categorized. The study population was interviewedafter obtaining Informed Consent Form for information about their awareness on Covid-19Vaccination.

Results and Discussion: In our study population, it was observed that Femalepatients (67%) were higher than Male patients (33%). A total of 86% patients considered themselvesmore vulnerable to Covid-19 than the general population. Television, radio, Newspaper were major sources of information about the vaccine. A total of 65% of the patients were ready to be vaccinated and 9% refused the vaccine.The main reason for refusal was incompatibility with patients disease or treatment.

Conclusion: In the present study it is observed most of the patients have accepted theCovid-19vaccination.Inthisstudymorethanhalfwerevaccinatedwithongoingactivecancertreatment.TheVulnerabilitytoCovid-19infectioninthesepatientsarealsopredominance.