The number of Americans who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 is continuing to rise (153 million as of June 27th); however, many people are still reluctant to get a vaccine. A survey released in May indicated that 22% of Americans will “definitely” or “probably” choose not to get vaccinated. Because of this hesitancy, some experts believe that the US may not reach herd immunity against COVID-19, depending on emerging variants and other factors.
The director of the Vaccine Confidence Project, Heidi J. Larson, believes the primary reason for hesitancy is concern about safety. But she added that some individuals believe that the vaccine just doesn’t fit well with personal values. While vaccination is a personal choice, some individuals may not be well informed about its safety or its importance. Twelve facts that may help individuals who are wrestling with their vaccination decision are listed in an easy-to-read document at https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditionsand-diseases/coronavirus/covid19-vaccinehesitancy-12-things-you-need-to-know.
Let reluctant individuals know at least these 3 things:
1) Waiting too long to get vaccinated allows continued spread of the coronavirus, including new emerging variants.
2) While vaccine development was fast, important research steps were not skipped. The vaccines met the FDA’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality.
3) Every person who gets a COVID-19 vaccination helps us all move closer to normal life.
Risk Expert Heidi J. Larson on Vaccine Hesitancy
Four reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among health care workers, and ways to counter them
States ranked by percentage of population who’ve received at least one COVID-19 shot: June 9
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