A) What is Vaccine Hesitancy?

COVID- 19 vaccination drive has been launched throughout the world, including in India, in the past months with the aim to initially cover health-care professionals and elderly population who are at high risk of COVID-19 infection due to occupational exposure and comorbidities respectively. 

Incidentally, many people are hesitant in taking this vaccine(‘Vaccine Hesitancy’). Vaccine hesitancy means a delay in acceptance or refusal to take the vaccine, despite its availability. 

B) Causes of Vaccine Hesitancy

There could be many reasons for the vaccine hesitancy due to some influencing factors -

I) Complacency - People do not see the need or value for it

II) Convenience -  An access to vaccines is not available

III) Confidence - Mistrust in the efficacy of the vaccine and its possible side effects. It is found to be more common in Africans, followed by Asian and Minority Ethnic population of the UK.

C) Consequences of no vaccination

This hesitancy has led to slower coverage and progress amongst this subset of the population. The biggest concern is that the unvaccinated people could form a deadly reservoir of this virus, which would cause further outbreaks of infection. Hence, it is imperative that a larger population (60-90%) is vaccinated so as to reach the level of adequate protection, equalling herd immunity. 

Hence, it is the right and duty of everyone to support the vaccination drive for COVID-19.

D) Advantages of Vaccination

The COVID-19 vaccination has been proven effective in several countries with minimal and short-term side effects like pain at the injection site, fever, and muscle pains. But, if offers several distinct advantages:

I) Helps to prevent COVID-19 infection

II) Decreases the severity and transmission of the disease

III) Provides a cost-effective intervention to achieve herd-immunity in the community

IV) Should help in ending the pandemic

E) Solutions to overcome Vaccine Hesitancy

I) Public Education -  It is crucial to engage the public to reassure and explain the need of vaccination. The efficacy and safety of the vaccine must be highlighted. Awareness campaigns by initially vaccinated health-care professionals will help allay fear,especially of the well-recognised people of the society and leaders.

II) Highlight the consequences of non-vaccination - It may result in further disease outbreaks increased death rates. These can be prevented by the use of vaccine.

III) Emphasise on the efficacy of past vaccination programs of some dreaded diseases like Smallpox and Polio.

IV) Overcome the problems of low-income people by providing vaccine free of cost and extending the vaccination sites and hours for them.

V) Sending frequent reminders to the people.