A Report | Essay on Vaccine Hesitancy 

Definition

When a patient delays or refuses to receive a vaccine even though it is readily available, this is referred to as vaccine hesitancy. The decision to accept or reject the vaccine is based on the individual's situation and their subtle behaviour over time and space. A vaccine-hesitant person is typically thought to be a challenging patient who lacks access to all information, rejects the healthcare provider, and has unreasonable expectations.



The 3Cs are described by the WHO definition of vaccine hesitancy, which is typically used by governments as a standard expression (Machingaidze & Wiysonge, 2021). A few factors that can influence vaccine hesitancy are complacency, practicality, and confidence. The general public is concerned about the vaccine's safety. These concerns are associated with aversion to vaccination. However, public safety and the vaccination reluctance equation are important. For instance, the recent measles outbreaks in some regions of the world are a serious concern.

Scope of Vaccine Hesitancy

Safety concerns are the main cause of vaccine reluctance. Despite the difficult circumstances, some people worry about their safety and the appropriate immunisation procedures depending on the population's access to vaccine (Murphy et al., 2021). Some people, though, are concerned about the vaccine's side effects. A successful immunisation programme, like one for HIV or Covid-19, depends on effective communication. As a result, people are less likely to accept the vaccine voluntarily. It is applicable to other vaccine hesitancy as well. But the main cause of this is that most people lack the understanding or communication needed to understand and accept the determinants of the vaccine.

New vaccine programmes have encountered many difficulties, but the future of public health is brighter with good communication and societal support. There are people who accepted the vaccines wholeheartedly as opposed to rejecting them while taking into account safety concerns regarding the environment. A diverse group of individuals who rejected the vaccine expressed safety concerns for themselves or their families, and vaccine reluctance ranged from acceptance to working with the vaccine's future.

Causes of Vaccine Hesitation and Possible Effects

It is a concern for the vast majority of individuals who accept vaccinations because they are concerned for their health's safety, but there are also those who do not believe in vaccinations. Therefore, those who have fully embraced vaccinations as a defence against any lethal viral infection have these concerns. People who have accepted the vaccination have realised, though, that the positive effects of the active ingredient outweigh any potential negative effects on their health. On the other hand, some people are apprehensive about getting immunised. However, one cannot claim that those people are uneducated.

Instead, these people are extremely cautious about their bodies and their health and may be aware that using a substance they do not fully understand could cause problems for their bodies. People have refused vaccinations in both industrialised and developing countries for a variety of reasons, such as poor communication, safety concerns, and rumours. They are aware of the dangers of immunizations. It is important to highlight the factors that have contributed to reluctance about accepting the vaccines. 

In this regard in order to better understand the mindset of those who refuse to take the vaccines used to protect their health or ward off infectious diseases. They think it's more dangerous than getting sick and they do not understand why people would willingly inject their children with a potentially dangerous substance.

Causes - Inadequate Information

Safety concerns

Some people in developing countries do not view the need for vaccinations as a serious health issue. These two incidents show that both highly educated and uneducated people exist. Because those who are educated have not been given enough information to fully understand the risks associated with vaccinations and the advantages that vaccinations can have for them and their families, both have refused vaccinations. People who lack a basic understanding of the benefits of vaccinations are either unable to pay for them or do not know the advantages vaccinations have for their health.

Only developing countries lack awareness campaigns. In order to lessen the risk to their own health and the health of others, they can learn about vaccines and select the vaccines provided by healthcare organisations. There is a lack of sufficient awareness campaigns for those who lack the confidence to accept the vaccine (Dror et al., 2020). Sometimes people refuse vaccinations. But every vaccine does not have to be taken. However, people have the choice to accept or reject a particular vaccination while still displaying the desired results. There are few reasons why someone would choose to forego getting vaccinated.

Poor communication

Rumors and Negative Thoughts

Healthcare organisations are turning to vaccinations for population immunisation to stop the spread of deadly diseases or viruses. As a result of healthcare organisations, including them, the World Health Organization (WHO) plays a significant role in promoting the acceptance of vaccines like HIV and COVID-19for the healthy lives of people living anywhere in the world. The way organisations interact with the public still needs to be improved, though, so that people feel comfortable using vaccines on themselves and the people they care about.

The WHO's Approach to Communication with the Public on Health Issues explains how the organisation wants its stakeholders to be fully informed about its goals and how it seeks to promote health and safety from diseases in an effort to close this confidence gap.

Rumors and negative beliefs about the vaccine have serious repercussions and a detrimental effect on people's lives (Puri et al., 2020). Therefore, those who reject the vaccine are not doing so because they do not want to be treated or protected against deadly infections; rather, it is due to poor communication, as people may be hesitant or concerned about using a particular vaccine on themselves or their family members. The situation of hesitation to receive the immunisation was brought on by the doubts. Therefore, the communicative strategies used by the WHO are crucial for educating and informing people about the reality that lies beneath the perception.

Potential Consequence’s

  • Self-Harm
  • Encourage people to avoid "Vaccine Hesitancy"
  • World population at risk (Shen & Dubey, 2019)

The possibility that those who are unprepared to receive the vaccination may infect others is one of the possible effects of vaccine resistance. Additionally, it encourages other people to come to terms with the concept of vaccination reluctance. Everybody should be concerned about their health, no matter how unfounded their fears may be. Making progress in this area is essential so that people can encourage one another to get the safe immunizations while taking into account their health conditions or medical histories. Concern should be expressed when previously eradicated diseases reappear.

The virus knows no boundaries, so if it is not stopped, the consequences could wipe out the entire planet. Whether or not someone decides to get the vaccine depends on how sure they are that they can take care of themselves and their family members. But the public's acceptance of the vaccination is based on a lack of information (Troiano & Nardi, 2021). Consequently, it is not reliant on receiving a degree. Here, it's important to emphasise how important it is to be knowledgeable and well-trained. Growingly educated citizens of developing countries, such as those in the United States, Greece, and other countries, have also resisted vaccinations due to safety concerns.

Three Proposed Strategies

Strategy 1: Behavioral Intervention through WHO Communication Plan

In order to protect people from various infectious diseases, the World Health Organization has chosen to administer vaccines (Troiano & Nardi, 2021). In reality, it was finished for COVID-19 while the world was battling the deadly virus. Taking into account that businesses are aware of how crucial vaccines are for people. However, poor communication with people around the world can have negative consequences. They might stop many diseases in their tracks.

Personal Role

It is important to know that, despite my best efforts, I do not completely trust the organisation that was established to ensure that people simply followed directions and received vaccinations. It was also made clear that people who already have blood clots may experience side effects from the vaccination. Realizing that I have blood clots and that no one else is able to assist the people so they can receive answers to their questions as a result of poor communication. Therefore, I believe that even though my organisation has flaws, it still has the potential to do good and is deserving of support.

Justification

With the help of organisations' effective communication, such as through their websites for the availability of agents to answer people's questions, the world may better understand the necessity for vaccinations and dispel any unfavourable ideas or thoughts regarding vaccine hesitancy. Therefore, the World Health Organization should interact with the general public so that they can submit complaints online and receive feedback. However, the charity needs to interact with the general public so that people can voice complaints online and get responses.

Strategy 2: Monetary Incentives

Through rewards, people may be convinced to immunise themselves against deadly infectious diseases (Yang et al., 2019). The government may decide to give those who opt to get immunised or immunise themselves financial incentives. For instance, the government might offer incentives like cash or utility bill discounts to encourage people to get vaccinated against polio.

Personal Role

According to my personal experience, not everyone who has vaccination reluctance is concerned about their health; some people, on the other hand, choose not to get the vaccine. Financial rewards may influence or motivate those people to get their vaccinations. Offering financial incentives has advantages that, in my opinion, outweigh the drawbacks.

Justification

Given that everyone in the entire global community could benefit from the action, it is justified. because every corner of the globe has already been infected by the deadly disease. Since these kinds of actions can benefit the entire community, The deadly virus, also known as SARS, is being treated in the United States (severe acute respiratory syndrome).

Strategy 3: Awareness – Marketing Campaign

Regardless of whether someone has a stronger educational background or even if they live in a developing or underdeveloped country, it is important to know how to keep oneself safe from health risks. Reluctance to get an immunisation is driven by health concerns rather than malice or hatred (Sallam, 2021). The person is concerned about giving themselves or their family the riskiest vaccine. Studies have shown that there is frequently a mistrust between the public and science as a whole.

Personal Role

Due to health safety concerns, I have personally been reluctant to get vaccinations. It speaks to the adverse consequences of vaccinations. The vaccine still carries the risk of any unfavourable side effects, even though the person is still unquestionably free of the virus. As a result, vaccinations are not permitted due to various myths that exist about the potential for adverse effects. I think that the vaccine safety precautions are overstated and that this fear is unfounded and irrational.

Justification

Participating in awareness campaigns run by various organisations using social media as a platform can encourage people who are discouraged about the vaccine to see its true benefits. A realistic portrayal of the drawbacks would also be helpful in assisting people in their journey toward acceptance. In order to increase vaccination rates and, ideally, reduce the influence of anti-vaccine organisations, the vaccines and their necessity will be used as an incentive.

References

 

Aguolu, O. G., Malik, A. A., Ahmed, N., & Omer, S. B. (2022). Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy for Future COVID-19 and HIV Vaccines: Lessons from Measles and HPV Vaccines. Current HIV/AIDS Reports, 1-16.  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11904-022-00622-0

Dror, A. A., Eisenbach, N., Taiber, S., Morozov, N. G., Mizrachi, M., Zigron, A., ... & Sela, E. (2020). Vaccine hesitancy: the next challenge in the fight against COVID-19. European journal of epidemiology, 35(8), 775-779. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&as_ylo=2018&q=addressing+vaccine+hesitancy+hiv&btnG=

Jones, D. L., Salazar, A. S., Rodriguez, V. J., Balise, R. R., Starita, C. U., Morgan, K., ... & Alcaide, M. L. (2021, June). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: vaccine hesitancy among underrepresented racial and ethnic groups with HIV in Miami, Florida. In Open Forum Infectious Diseases (Vol. 8, No. 6, p. ofab154). US: Oxford University Press.  https://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_ylo=2018&q=addressing+vaccine+hesitancy&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5

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Murphy, J., Vallières, F., Bentall, R. P., Shevlin, M., McBride, O., Hartman, T. K., ... & Hyland, P. (2021). Psychological characteristics associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Nature communications, 12(1), 1-15. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-20226-9

Puri, N., Coomes, E. A., Haghbayan, H., & Gunaratne, K. (2020). Social media and vaccine hesitancy: new updates for the era of COVID-19 and globalized infectious diseases. Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 16(11), 2586-2593. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_ylo=2018&q=addressing+vaccine+hesitancy&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5

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Sallam, M. (2021). COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy worldwide: a concise systematic review of vaccine acceptance rates. Vaccines, 9(2), 160. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_ylo=2018&q=addressing+vaccine+hesitancy&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5

Shen, S. C., & Dubey, V. (2019). Addressing vaccine hesitancy: Clinical guidance for primary care physicians working with parents. Canadian Family Physician, 65(3), 175-181. https://www.cfp.ca/content/cfp/65/3/175.full.pdf

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