ACCEPTANCE OF COVID-19 VACCINE AND PATTERN OF SIDE EFFECTS IN NEPALESE CONTEXT: A POSTVACCINE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

ABSTRACT Background: First phase of COVID-19 vaccination was initiated in Nepal in January 2021 targeting the frontline health care workers. Vaccine side effects have a significant role in public confidence regarding the vaccine and its uptake. We aimed to determine the acceptability and explore the side effects of first dose of ChAdOx1 nCOV-19 (Covishield) vaccine among the health care workers of Chitwan Medical College. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among the health care workers at Chitwan Medical College. Total enumeration sampling technique was used and a self-constructed questionnaire was circulated among the health care workers to self-report their socio-demographic information and vaccination experience. Chi square test was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20 for statistical analysis and p-value