Myths and Perception of Management Students and Faculty towards Covaxin and Covishield Vaccines, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

Introduction: With the vaccination drive underway, it is important to dispel any myths about vaccines circulating in India. Lack of proper understanding and lack of exposure to the science behind the functioning of a vaccine people have different perceptions towards two vaccines i.e., Covishield and Covaxin, which are available in India. It is the need of the hour to dispel the myths and misconceptions around both vaccines. 
Materials and Methods:  A study has been undertaken to know the perceptions of management students and faculty towards Covaxin and Covishield vaccines, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. A structured questionnaire is prepared and forwarded to around 2000 respondents of different Management colleges located in Vijayawada. A convenient sampling technique was adopted and got 412 responses and analyzed with SPSS software. 
Results: Out of 412 respondents, majority 55.3%(228) respondents are believing that side effects are less with  Covaxin, followed by 27.9%(115) respondents believes that no many differences between both brands, followed by 16.7%(69) respondents are thinking that side effects are less with Covishield in the study area. 
Conclusions: It has been concluded that the Majority of the respondents in the study area are well versed with the dose, mode of vaccines. Inefficacy and effectiveness, side effects of vaccines, respondents are different opinions. The government has to promote the two vaccines and take steps to curtail the myths about these two vaccines through advertisements in electronic media, print media


INTRODUCTION
With the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc in India, vaccination is one of the most effective defense mechanisms. Unless there is mass vaccination, the pandemic will continue to come in waves and create marvelous destruction. The government has to take all steps so that in India and everyone above the age of 18 years can now get vaccinated. There are primarily two vaccines being administered in India -Covishield and Covaxin [1].

The Benefits of Vaccination
The COVID-19 vaccines produce fortification against the disease, as a result of developing an immune response to the SARS-Cov-2 virus. Developing immunity through vaccination means there is protection against the illness and its consequences [2]. This immunity helps people fight the virus if exposed. Getting vaccinated may also protect people because if everyone is protected from getting infected and from disease, everyone is less likely to infect someone else. This is predominantly significant to save from harming people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, such as healthcare providers, older or elderly adults, and people with other medical conditions [3,4,5].

Covid Vaccines in India
Currently, India has two vaccines. The first one is the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, Covishield. It is being manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India. The other one is the homegrown Covaxin, manufactured by Bharat Biotech. Both vaccines have a high victory rate and are given across the country. Both the vaccines are administered intramuscularly.

Covaxin
According to the makers of Covaxin rigging the Whole-Virion Inactivated Vero Cell-derived technology. Here, an inactive virus is injected into the recipient's body. While this virus is inept at infecting the person, it can train the immune system on how to fight an active virus if it enters the body. Covaxin has an efficacy of over 78%, which is pretty impressive in a large country like India.

Key features
COVAXIN ® is incorporated with immunepotentiates, also known as vaccine adjutants, which are added to the vaccine to increase and boost its immunogenicity. It is a 2-dose vaccination regimen given 28 days apart.
Covaxin is a vaccine with no sub-zero storage, no reconstitution requirement, and ready to use liquid presentation in multi-dose vials, stable at 2-8 o C. Pre-clinical studies demonstrated strong immunogenicity and shielding efficacy in animal challenge studies conducted in hamsters &nonhuman primates. The vaccine received DCGI approval for Phase I & II Human Clinical Trials in July 2020.
A total of 375 subjects have been enrolled in the Phase 1 study and generated outstanding protection data without any reactogenicity. Vaccine-induced neutralizing antibody titers were observed with two divergent SARS-CoV-2 strains. The percentage of all the side effects combined was only 15% in vaccine recipients. In the Phase 2 study, 380 participants of 12-65 years were enrolled. COVAXIN ® led to tolerable safety outcomes and enhanced humoral and cellmediated immune responses. A total of 25,800 subjects have been registered and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive the vaccine and control in an Event-Driven, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre phase 3 study.

Covishield
The Covishield vaccine works on a different mechanismthe viral vector method. Here, an active but harmless virus is injected into the body. It impersonates the primaryillness, and the body produces pathogens that keep the body geared up to fight the active, harmful COVID viruses in the future. It has an efficiency of approximately 82%.

The
Covishield COVID-19 (AZD1222) (C19VAZ) vaccine, formerly known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, is made from a virus (ChAdOx1), a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus). Genetic material has been added to the ChAdOx1 construct, which is used to make proteins from the SARS-CoV-2 corona virus called Spike glycoprotein (S). With the vaccination drive underway, it is important to dispel any myths about vaccines circulating in India. Lack of proper understanding and exposure to the science behind a vaccine can prove harmful to the many individuals who are withholding themselves from getting vaccinated. At the same time, it is essential to educate oneself about these vaccines from the suitable sources [8,9,10,11]. 1) The COVID vaccine is unsafe because it was developed so quickly 2) The COVID vaccine renders people sterile.
3) COVID vaccine is not safe to get when you are menstruating. 4) The COVID vaccine has a micro-tracking chip 5) Covid vaccine will make me infertile 6) Vaccination may result in severe side effects or even death 7) Vaccine can weaken the immune system and infect you with the virus 8) The vaccine is unsafe for pregnant women 9) The virus has mutated and the vaccine won't work 10) Alcohol consumption should make vaccination ineffective 11) Non-vegetarian food should be avoided after vaccination

Need of the Study
While some doubts are caused by the fasttracked approval process for the two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin. There are also several myths about efficacy, effectiveness, side effects, and adverse effects of Covishield and Covaxin. The myths like Covaxin will create fewer side and negative effects, and Covishield is more effective and less price vice versa. The rumors and myths are causing people to wait to make their choice rather than taking the available vaccine. It was unfortunate that some people were spreading misinformation about vaccination.
It is time to curtail all myths about two vaccines, for that one should know the public's perceptions. Hence an attempt has been made to understand the perceptions of the educated and knowledgeable Management students and faculty towards Covaxin and Covishield vaccines, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A descriptive Research method is adopted for this study. A convenient sampling technique is adopted for this study. A structured questionnaire is forwarded to 1900 management students and faculty of different, management colleges located in Vijayawada of Andhra Pradesh to collect primary data. Out of that, 412 responses are received from the management students and management faculty. The secondary data is collected through journals, websites, newspapers, and Government statistics. The data is analyzed with SPSS software.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Out of 412 respondents, the majority, 51.2% (210) respondents are female, followed by 48.8% (201) respondents who are male in the study area.
Out of 412 respondents, majority 53.9% (222) respondents are in the age group of below 25 years, followed by 24% (99) respondents are in the age group of 25-45, followed by 19.7% (81) respondents are in the age group of 45-65, followed by 2.4%(10) respondents are in the age group of above 65 in the study area.
Out of 412 respondents, the majority 50.7 %( 209) respondents belong to the rural area followed by 49.3 %( 203) respondents belong to urban areas in the study area.

Vaccinated or Not
Out of 412 respondents, the majority, 67 %( 276) respondents are vaccinated against covid-19.The number is followed by 33 %( 136) respondents who are not vaccinated against covid-19 in the study area.

Profession
Out of 412 respondents, the majority, 54.12 %( 223) respondents are Management faculty, followed by 45.87 %( 189) respondents are Management students in the study area.

Null hypothesis
Opinions regarding overall trust in the vaccines are not dependent on the role of respondents.

Alternative hypothesis
Opinions regarding overall trust in the vaccines are dependent on the role of respondents.

Level of Significance
α%= 0.05 Here we compare the significant value with the level of significance. If the considerable value is greater than the significance level, we accept our null hypothesis; otherwise, we reject our null hypothesis.
For this hypothesis, if the significant value (0.000) is less than the significance level (0.05), we reject our null hypothesis. Therefore, opinions regarding overall trust in the vaccines are dependent on the role of respondents.

Null hypothesis
Opinions regarding overall trust in vaccines are not dependent on gender.

Alternative hypothesis
Opinions regarding overall trust in the vaccines are dependent on gender.

Level of significance
α%= 0.05 Here we compare the significant value with the level of significance. If the significant value is greater than the significance level, we accept our null hypothesis; otherwise, we reject our null hypothesis.
For this hypothesis the significant value (0.006) is less than the level of significance (0.05);we reject our null hypothesis. Therefore, opinions regarding overall trust in the vaccines are dependent on gender.

Null hypothesis
Opinions regarding overall trust on the vaccines are not dependent on age.

Alternative hypothesis
Opinions regarding overall trust in the vaccines are dependent on age.   Here we compare the significant value with the level of significance. If the significant value is greater than the significance level, we accept our null hypothesis; otherwise, we reject our null hypothesis.

Based on Age
For this hypothesis, the significant value (0.000) is less than the level of significance (0.05); we reject our null hypothesis. Therefore, opinions regarding overall trust in the vaccines are dependent on age.

Null hypothesis
Opinions regarding overall trust in the vaccines are not dependent on location.

Alternative hypothesis
Opinions regarding overall trust in the vaccines are dependent on location.

Based on Location
3.6.1 Level of significance α%= 0.05 Here we compare the significant value with the level of significance. If the significant value is greater than the significance level, we accept our null hypothesis; otherwise, we reject our null hypothesis.
For this hypothesis, the significant value (0.033) is less than the significance level (0.05), so we reject our null hypothesis. Therefore, opinions regarding overall trust in the vaccines are dependent on location.

Fig. 2. Perceptions towards covaxin and covishield
The formulae for Cramer's V is given by Here the value of Cramer's V is 0.448. Based on the V value, we conclude that there exists a high association between the variables.
Out of 412 respondents, the majority, 51.2% (210) respondents are female, followed by 48.8%(201) respondents who are male in the study area.
Out of 412 respondents, the majority, 50.7% (209) respondents belong to the rural area, followed by 49.3%( 203) respondents belong to urban areas in the study area.
Out of 412 respondents, the majority, 58.7 %( 242) respondents are unmarried, followed by 41.3 %( 170) respondents who are married in the study area.
Out of 412 respondents, the majority, 54.1 %( 223) respondents are students, followed by 45.9 %( 189) respondents who are faculty in the study area.
Out of 412 respondents, majority 47.3%(195) respondents yearly income is less than 2..5 lakhs, followed by 20.9% (86) respondents annualincome is in the range of 2.5 to 5 lakhs, followed by 17% (70) respondents income is 5-7.5 lakhs, followed by 11.7%(48) respondents income is in the range of 7.5-10 lakhs in the study area. Out of 412 respondents, the majority, 44.2 % (182) respondents believe that no differences between both brands, followed by 31.8%( 131) respondents are more trust in Covaxin, followed by 24%(99) respondents trust on SERUM institute in the study area.
Out of 412 respondents, majority 61.7 % (2542) respondents no much differences between trust in both brands followed by 20.1%( 83) respondents are more trust in Covaxin, followed by 15% (2) respondents trust on Covishield, followed by 3.2%(13) respondents are no trust on two brands in the study area.
Out of 412 respondents, the majority, 94.4 % (389) respondents are aware that both vaccines should be administered intramuscularly and the same dose (0.5ml) should be distributed In the study area.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOM-MENDATION
The majority of the respondents in the study area are well aware of the dose and mode of vaccines. Different opinions are about efficacy and effectiveness, side effects of vaccines. The healthcare workers should create awareness and educate people saying that no statistical evidences are available about consumption of alcohol, non-vegetarian food, taking vaccine in menstruation period reduces efficacy. The government has to promote the two vaccines and take steps to curtail the myths about these two vaccines through advertisements in electronic media and print media. The Social service organizations and celebrities should promote both vaccines and send the message that both are good and effective about covid-19.
The colleges and universities should made a mandatory rue like that no entry without vaccination.
As a part of corporate social responsibility, all industries should concentrate on rural areas to educate rural people by sending health workers to the door step of the people and should motivate rural student's with some vaccination offers and conduct some workshops, seminars in the schools, colleges and universities to curtail myths.
The government should take the help of leading doctors, healthcare professionals and to conduct seminars, workshops to educate students and faculty to promote both vaccines so that all the citizens include students and faculty of India will complete the vaccination process and India will become one of the Covid free nations in near future.

DISCLAIMER
The products used for this research are commonly and predominantly used in our research area and country. There is no conflict of interest between the authors and producers of the products because we do not intend to use these products as an avenue for litigation but the advancement of knowledge. Also, the research was not funded by the producing company rather, it was financed by the personal efforts of the authors.

CONSENT AND ETHICAL APPROVAL
As per international standard or university standard guideline participant consent and ethical approval has been collected and preserved by the authors.