The Fears of Vaccination - A Lens into Public Perspective

Vaccines, since their original development, have played important roles in the eradication

of diseases such as smallpox. They have also been significant in advancing healthcare to

unprecedented levels, such as through the vaccine for the coronavirus. However, many people

refrain from administering vaccines to themselves or their children. This is known as vaccine

hesitancy, defined by the European Centre for Disease Control as the “delay in acceptance or

refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services.” Why are some people still so

unsure of vaccines, however? What about a vaccine creates the hesitancy that ultimately

prevents a person from administering it?

There are a number of reasons behind why a person would refuse a vaccine, one of

which is the role religion plays in their life. For example, religious leaders across the African

continent hold significant influence on their followers as well as their view of vaccines. They

believe that prayer is sufficient in healing illnesses such as the coronavirus. Religious leaders

overall have expressed skepticism in orthodox healthcare, belief that vaccines carry antifertility

agents, such as HIV, and belief in government-sponsored population control. Another reason a

person may refuse a vaccine consists of concerns regarding the safety and side effects of

vaccines. This often correlates with a lack of information or understanding about how vaccines

function.

People may also refuse a vaccine due to the lack of trust they feel towards vaccination.

Specifically, people are more likely to comply with these programs when public trust is displayed

in institutions such as pharmaceutical industries, the healthcare system, as well as the political

system. In fact, a large part of boycott programs that take place in African countries against

vaccines are due to political corruption.

Another major driver behind vaccine hesitancy is social media. For example, the

protocols taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus extended usage of social media,

leaving large numbers of people vulnerable to misinformation and rumors about vaccination.

The main tools used on social media to increase vaccine hesitancy include misinformation,

inaccurate information without deceitful intent, and disinformation, inaccurate information

presented with the goal of falsely influencing others. As many people turn to the internet and

other online platforms for information regarding concepts they do not understand well, it is very

easy to spread false information. This results in many people being influenced in the wrong

direction in regards to vaccines.

Vaccination is one of the most successful public health interventions. Since their

development, malignant diseases such as smallpox (eradicated worldwide), endemic polio,

measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome have been eliminated from many countries.

There is little legitimate reasoning to support any hesitancy behind administering a vaccine.

However, vaccine hesitancy is fueled by a number of different malintent causes, from rumors on

social media to political corruption. Being such a controversial topic, vaccine hesitancy is

certainly difficult to support or refute.