Abstract

EVALUATION OF IMMUNIZATION STATUS, KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF MEDICAL AND PARAMEDICAL STUDENTS ON VACCINATION

Shamna Haris*, Dr. Dhanya Dharman and Prof. (Dr.) Shaiju S. Dharan

Abstract

Background: Medical and paramedical students are at high risk for acquiring infectious diseases in a clinical setting due to needle stick injuries and other modes of transmission making them susceptible to diseases like Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Measles, Mumps, Chickenpox. These can be prevented by proper vaccinations like Hepatitis B, DTaP, MMR and Varicella vaccines. Objective: To know the important vaccinations taken by medical and paramedical students, evaluate Hepatitis B vaccination pattern, immune status and to assess their knowledge and perception on vaccination. Methodology: A questionnaire based study was carried out among medical and paramedical students. Data was collected and subjected to proper statistical analysis in Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Result: About 110 students participated in the study, among which 98.2% students considered vaccination essential. Hepatitis B vaccination was taken recently by 61.8% students, followed by Varicella (17.3%), MMR (16.4%) and DTaP (5.5%). About 50% students considered that vaccines can give complete protection from disease. About 5.5% students have experienced an infectious disease within clinical settings due to lack of vaccination. About 38.2% have experienced side effects. About 97.3% students considered awareness on proper vaccination as essential among medical students. Conclusion: Vaccination was considered essential by a majority of students. Hepatitis B vaccine was taken recently by many of them. The risk of acquiring contagious diseases in a clinical setting is high and since a minority of them still lacks enough knowledge on vaccine efficacy, it is necessary to educate them about the importance of taking proper vaccinations against infectious diseases.

Keywords: Vaccination; Medical students; Hepatitis B vaccination.