Effect of Non Incentivised and Incentivised Free COVID-19 Vaccination Camps in Augmentation of State’s Efforts in Achieving Vaccination Targets Necessary for Herd Immunity

Introduction: Most effective way to defeat the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is mass vaccination to achieve herd immunity which requires vaccination of about 80% of the population.

Aim: To compare the effect of non incentivised and incentivised free COVID-19 vaccination camps on augmentation of state’s efforts in achieving vaccination targets of covering 80% of population.

Materials and Methods: The present retrospective observational study included free COVID-19 vaccination camps, both non incentivised (8 days) and incentivised (8 days), were organised in month of June and July, 2021 at a hospital in association with an NGO under the supervision of District Immunisation Officer. Data of all vaccinations done was compared to document the effect of incentivised free vaccination camp as compared to non incentivised camps. Data was represented as frequency, percentage and Chi-square test was used.

Results: Total of 4111 vaccinations were done during the free vaccination camps, including 1406 during non incentivised and 2705 during incentivised camps. During non incentivised camps 1114 people were given 1st dose and 292 were given 2nd dose, while during incentivised camps 2334 people were given 1st dose and 371 were given 2nd dose. Analysis of the data showed that the difference in number of 1st dose and 2nd dose vaccinations done during the incentivised vaccination camps was statistically significantly higher as compared to the number of 1st dose and 2nd dose vaccinations done during non incentivised vaccination camps. Similar results showed that the difference in number of vaccination done among the age groups of 18-44 years and >44 years during the incentivised vaccination camps was statistically significantly higher as compared to the number of vaccination among the age groups of 18-44 years and >44 years done during the non incentivised vaccination camps.

Conclusion: The present study documented statistically significantly higher number of 1st dose of vaccinations, 2nd dose of vaccinations, vaccinations among 18-44 years age group and >44 years age group done during incentivised vaccination camps as compared to non incentivised vaccination camps. Results of the present study suggest that incentivised vaccination campaigns should be incorporated as an important component of COVID-19 vaccination campaign strategy to vaccinate enough Indian population and achieve herd immunity for protection from COVID-19 pandemic