Paper Review

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Vaccination Coverage in India: An

Exploratory Analysis

Priya Kumari
Semester III
CSRD, Department of Geography, Jawaharlal University, Delhi
priyakumarirajbhar@gmail.com

Introduction
The article named "COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Vaccination Coverage in India:
An Exploratory Analysis" explores the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination
coverage in India. The study finds strong linkages between vaccination coverage and
factors such as vaccine hesitancy, socioeconomic conditions, health infrastructure,
literacy, and access to the internet. It suggests that states with low vaccine hesitancy,
less acute poverty, better health infrastructure, and higher literacy achieved higher
COVID-19 vaccination coverage. On the other hand, states with high vaccine hesitancy,
a higher proportion of people living in acute poverty, and poor health infrastructure had
lower vaccination coverage.

Methodology and analysis

The study uses econometric models to explore the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine
coverage and estimates the causal relationship between them. It also examines the
impact of social and economic variables on vaccination coverage in Indian states, using
a demand and supply-side framework to investigate the role of vaccine hesitancy,
access to the internet, and multi-dimensional deprivations in determining vaccination
uptake. The document highlights the importance of addressing vaccine hesitancy,
mitigating multi-dimensional poverty, and enhancing digital access to improve
COVID-19 vaccination coverage in India. It also emphasizes the need for targeted
interventions to address vaccine hesitancy and access to healthcare services,
particularly in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings
This analysis reveals that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy significantly affects vaccination
coverage in India. A 30 percent decline in coverage accompanies a percentage
increase in hesitancy. Moreover, multidimensional poverty reduces coverage by 50
percent per unit increase. Gender disparities in digital technology access further affect
coverage, with males showing positive associations and females exhibiting higher
hesitancy. Targeted interventions are crucial to combat hesitancy, especially among
marginalized populations and deprived regions.

Some major findings from the paper are,

 Paper Review
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Vaccination Coverage in India: An
Exploratory Analysis
- Paper suggests that states with low vaccine hesitancy, less acute poverty, better
health infrastructure, literacy, etc., achieved higher COVID-19 vaccination coverage."
- "The widespread misinformation on the internet is fueling vaccine hesitancy in many
states and, thus, strategies that could potentially target the spread of misinformation
need to be adopted."
- "States that have been investing considerably in the health and education sectors over
the past few decades have been maintaining a robust healthcare infrastructure,
enabling them to manage emergency health crises such as COVID-19 effectively."

Critical Evaluation
While the study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay of socioeconomic
factors, gender disparities, and digital access in shaping vaccination coverage and
hesitancy in India, there are some criticisms about the methodology used in the paper.
The study relies on secondary data from the COVID-19 Consumption Survey (CSS)
conducted by academic institutions and Facebook, which may have limitations in terms
of representativeness and potential biases. The use of Facebook as a sampling frame
may introduce selection bias, as it may not fully represent the general population.
Additionally, the study's reliance on self-reported data from social media platforms
raises concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the information collected.
Furthermore, the study's use of econometric models to estimate the causal relationship
between vaccine hesitancy, access to the internet, and multi-dimensional deprivations
may have limitations in capturing the complex and dynamic nature of these factors.
There is a need for caution in interpreting the findings, as the methodology used may
not fully capture the nuances and complexities of the determinants of COVID-19
vaccination coverage. Overall, while the study provides valuable insights, there are
limitations in the methodology that should be considered when interpreting the results.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the article "COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Vaccination Coverage in
India: An Exploratory Analysis" offers important insights into the determinants of
COVID-19 vaccination coverage in India, highlighting the need to address vaccine
hesitancy, mitigate multi-dimensional poverty, and enhance digital access to improve
vaccination coverage. However, the study's methodology may have limitations in terms
of representativeness and potential biases, which should be taken into consideration
when interpreting the findings.