Status and perception toward the COVID‐19 vaccine: A cross‐sectional online survey among adult population of Bangladesh

INTRODUCTION: COVID‐19 has become a global public health concern. Safe and effective vaccines are required to control the pandemic. However, positive perception toward the vaccine is also necessary for a successful vaccination effort. OBJECTIVE: A rapid online survey was conducted to evaluate the status and perception toward the newly administered COVID‐19 vaccine among the adult population (18 years and above) of Bangladesh. METHODS: A total of 850 adult people participated. χ (2) or Fisher's exact test was performed to determine the association between the first dose of vaccination and sociodemographic information. Logistic regression analyses were carried out to examine the predictors of knowledge, attitude, and hesitation toward the vaccine. RESULTS: Exactly 24.12% of the study population received their first dose of COVID‐19 vaccine, whereas 30.23% expressed hesitation about pursuing the vaccine. Older age groups (>70%), married people (49.62%), capital Dhaka city outsiders (32.76%), and high‐income groups (>50%) received the vaccine much higher than their counter group. Age, marital status, educational attainment, monthly income, and prior COVID‐19 positive status were all significantly associated with the knowledge regarding the vaccine. Only age (>55 years age group = aOR: 4.10; 95% CI: 1.30, 14.31) and level of knowledge (poor knowledge = aOR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.23) were significant determinants of attitudes. In case of hesitation, age group and monthly income were found as significant determinants. Fear of adverse consequences (86.67%) was the most common reason for hesitation, followed by insufficient information (73.85%). CONCLUSION: This study sought to determine the status and perception of the newly administered COVID‐19 vaccine to aid in the current inoculation campaign's effectiveness. Collaboration between academics, government officials, and communities is essential in developing a successful COVID‐19 vaccination program for the entire population. The authority should develop effective strategies to ensure the implementation of its policy of widespread COVID‐19 vaccination coverage.