peer reviews

With the current state of the global pandemic, vaccination rates are a crucial part of attaining herd immunity. Take a look at this brochure to understand some of the issues surrounding vaccine hesitancy, and help find a way to tackle those issues head on. Rebuilding trust in public health and the scientists involved, is an important aspect in ending the pandemic and living a more normal life with COVID- 19.

Science, healthcare system, and government effectiveness perception and COVID-19

vaccination acceptance and hesitancy in a global sample: an

analytical cross-sectional analysis (Dye, T., et. Al., 2021)

In a study conducted by University of Rochester Medical Center doctors, they examined survey results of 7411 participants from around the world using social media platforms to collect their data. Their findings showed the following:

The groups most hesitant to receive the COVID 19 vaccine were:

x Low-income individuals (37%) x Women 18-34 (36%) x Individuals over 75 (22%)

The main conclusion that the researchers came to was that vaccine acceptance was SULPDULO\�GHSHQGHQW�RQ�WKH�LQGLYLGXDO·V� knowledge of science, more so than their trust in healthcare or government perception.

Sources Dye, T. D., Barbosu, M., Siddiqi, S., Ramos, J. G. P., Murphy, H.,

Alcántara, L., & Pressman, E. (2021, November 1). Science, healthcare system, and government effectiveness perception and covid-19 vaccination acceptance and hesitancy in a global sample: An analytical cross-sectional analysis. BMJ Open. Retrieved March 20, 2022, from https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e049716

Larson, H. J., Clarke, R. M., Jarrett, C., Eckersberger, E., Levine, Z., Schulz, W. S., & Paterson, P. (2018, July 3). Measuring trust in vaccination: A systematic review. Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics. Retrieved March 20, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6067893/

COVID Vaccine Hesitancy

Why it Exists and Ways to Help our Community Trust in the Science of

Vaccines

Jasmine Magallanes BIO 120

Professor Schweitzer

Measuring trust in vaccination: A systematic review (Larson, H. J., et. Al., 2018)

In another study conducted by a group of researchers for the Vaccine Confidence Project, they summarized that there is a definite disconnect on how people view the health field and how that directly affects their level of trust in vaccines. It not only relies on what the public is told by their health care providers, but also by how big of a role the government plays in their direct healthcare, how past examples of mishandling of public health issues can further their level of trust, what role the LQGLYLGXDOV·�UHOLJLRXV�YDOXHV�SOD\��DQG�KRZ� historical health literature all contribute to distrust in vaccines in present day .

Who Can We Trust? There are many people who work in STEM, but not all of them are trusted by the community. From my study I gathered who the participants trusted the most to give them correct information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.

´«>86�*RYHUQPHQW@� FDQ·W�KLUH�SHRSOH�WR�

make good decisionsµ

-Participant #30

Why is Our Community Against COVID Vaccinations?

Over the last two years, our world has been turned upside down and unfortunately not much has changed. Our schools were shut down, entertainment came to a halt, and the conspiracy theories were at an all-time high. Between the all of the bad, we had our healthcare workers and scientists working tirelessly to put an end to the madness, and out of that came the greatest chance RI�HQGLQJ�WKH�SDQGHPLF«vaccines. In a qualitative study conducted by myself, I asked users over Instagram to answer a few questions regarding their vaccination stance before and after the COVID vaccine became available. I found that majority of the participants over the age of 30 were having a hard time finding trust in a government funded vaccine. :KHQ�DVNHG�WKH�TXHVWLRQ�´'R�\RX�EHOLHve the US government has your best interests in mind when it comes to the COVID-���YDFFLQHµ�RQH�IHPDOH� SDUWLFLSDQW������DQVZHUHG��´No it's all about money DQG�D�ORW�RI�LW�µ�2I�WKH�41 participants that took WKLV�VXUYH\����DQVZHUHG�´QRµ�RU�´XQVXUHµ�DQG� only ���DQVZHUHG�´\HV�µ�:KHQ�DVNHG�ZK\������RI� the 25 said money/greed, 32% stated lack of knowledge, and 28% had ´otherµ reasons.

Possible Ways to Change Perspective in Hopes of

Achieving Higher Vaccination Rates

If we lived in a perfect world, everyone would get WKHLU�ZD\��8QIRUWXQDWHO\��ZH�GRQ·W�OLYH�LQ�D�SHUIHFW� world and that means we have to work together to find a perfect way to coexist. From my data collected, on 12% of participants were in healthcare or the medical field. But as you can see, majority of the participants trust their doctor to give them the most trustworthy information. This is where the disconnect is. I believe that if we, as a country, could come together and elect officials that: 1. Can keep church and state separated when making decisions for this country and 2. Have a greater knowledge of science and public health, and the impact it can have when not run properly, we would have a greater chance of realizing that the world needs vaccinations. Especially vaccinations that are life-saving for individuals that need it most. When we are finally able to trust in our elected officials and have more trust in science, we will be able to find the compassion for others and get vaccination rates higher around

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Public Health Officials CDC

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