March 29, 2022

Perception and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination among urban slum dwellers in Dhaka, Bangladesh

W. Alam, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Vaccine hesitancy – ‘delay in acceptance or reluctance or refusal to vaccination despite the availability of vaccination services’
– It is identified as one of the ten major threats to global health in 2019
Bangladesh started its COVID-19 vaccination drive from the 7th of February 2021
– 72% people vaccinated with 1st dose to 49% people vaccinated with 2nd dose
In Bangladesh, around 47% of the urban population live in densely populated slums
Urban slum dwellers live and work in poor conditions
– Unable to practice preventive measures in slums – handwashing, social distancing, wearing masks
– Often neglected in health provision, policy and practice
Limited/no data on COVID-19 vaccination for urban slum dwellers