Adult Vaccination among Diabetic Patients: An Assessment of Awareness, Coverage and Acceptance in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kolkata, India

Introduction: Adult vaccination is widely recognized as a highly cost-effective public health measure, despite its benefits many diabetics may not grasp their importance or have misconceptions, affecting their acceptance. The purpose of the study was to assess the awareness and to estimate the coverage and find out the level of acceptance of adult vaccination. Methods: An observational study with cross-sectional design was conducted in Diabetes OPD of tertiary care hospital in Kolkata among 423 diabetics patients using consecutive sampling methods attending Diabetic OPD for a duration 6 months (September 2023-February 2024). A pre-designed, pre-tested, structured schedule comprising of socio demographic clinical profile, awareness, coverage and acceptance of vaccine was used for face-to-face interview. Data were analysed by Microsoft Excel 2019 and SPSS v25.0. Results: Out of 423 participants more than half (57%) were male, and mean age of them were 50.7 years (±11.2). Ninety one percent (91%) of study participants had type II Diabetes Mellitus, and more than two thirds (67.4 %) suffered from co-morbidities. Thirteen percent (13%) had adequate awareness about adult vaccination and very few (7%) had administered Hepatitis B vaccine. Seventy one percent (71%) of the study participants were ready to get Influenza vaccine after being aware. Fear of adverse effects and out of pocket expenditure were the major reason from non-acceptance of vaccines. Conclusion: Eighty-seven percent (87%) of the participants had inadequate awareness about adult vaccines and only seven percent (7%) of them had taken Hepatitis B vaccination.