Countering COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy
Abstract
Introduction: Many devastating diseases have been largely controlled or eradicated, especially in industrialized nations, due to the availability of safe, effective, and affordable vaccines. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a horrific toll on human life and is devastating the global economy. To prevent the continued spread of COVID-19, efforts have begun to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. However, recent public polls have demonstrated concerns with the COVID-19 vaccine. To help understand these concerns, this review addresses the necessity of vaccines, vaccine safety and development, and vaccine hesitancy.
Methods: This review contains a compilation of data from several sources, including peer-reviewed journals, preprints, studies published in PubMed and the Cochrane Library, CDC and WHO guidelines, and broader web searches to retrieve up-to-date information. Studies selected were related to vaccine safety, production, and efficacy or COVID-19.
Results/Conclusion: To improve public acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine, public health officials and healthcare professionals need to work with community leaders to create specialized strategies to overcome vaccine hesitancy. Such strategies could use both traditional and social media platforms in addition to physician-patient interactions. To maximize the number of individuals who receive the COVID-19 vaccine, these strategies should focus on dispelling potential myths and emphasize the benefits and safety of vaccination.
Key Words: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, vaccine, vaccine hesitancy, vaccine safety/efficacy
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Copyright (c) 2020 Cody Perry, Adin Mizer, Adam Wynn, Cassie Kruczek
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