Decision considerations involved before getting a vaccine

Many people take various factors into consideration before ultimately making the decision to get vaccinated.
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In addition to the benefits and risks of the vaccine, cost and insurance coverage is a major consideration, specially among the uninsured population. Accessibility such as the option of walk-in facilities at conveniently located centres is also important for many people. Vaccine availability and flu seasons also determines when people get vaccinated.  Lastly, when it comes to covid vaccines specifically, people often want to make an informed decision about the brand of vaccine they want to get. This decision is often based on their own research and news surrounding potential side effects and long term impacts of each vaccine brand.
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Additionally, some individuals opt to get vaccinated in order to reduce the chances of infection for other family members who may fall into vulnerable categories. 

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Concerns and skepticism around vaccine safety, side effects & efficacy

Severe side effects experienced from Covid and flu vaccines, has raised concerns and conversation regarding the safety, efficacy and potential long-term impact of vaccines.

Some people worry that the side effects of the vaccine, such as in the case of flu vaccines, are sometimes more severe than the flu itself. At the same time, many have experienced side effects with flu and Covid vaccines that have lingered on for long periods which makes them question if it’s worth getting the vaccine, specially when the efficacy rates are known to be low. Moreover, people are also looking for answers around the long term effects and impact of vaccines such as Covid and RSV vaccines, given the lack of scientific data as a result of their short and expedited trials.
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Such uncertainties and lack of information has further deepened the doubts surrounding the use of these vaccines.

Vaccine hesitancy and lack of adherence to subsequent doses

People’s hesitancy towards getting vaccinated or adhering to follow up doses is a result of skepticism and lack of trust around the side effects and efficacy of these vaccines especially in the absence of long-term data and reports of failed trial results.

In case of Covid vaccines, this has been exacerbated by news of healthy young adults dying from blood clots caused by the AZ Covid-19 Vaccine. Additionally, some people believe that natural immunity is enough to beat the virus, while others feel that vaccines don’t really work and offer no guarantee of protection. Furthermore, with virus strains constantly mutating and changing, people don’t see the point of getting these vaccines as would fail to offer protection against the new and future strains.

Few are on the fence, seeking good advice to make a decision, while most feel that choosing to get vaccinated is a personal choice and should not be a mandate, and that they shouldn’t be shamed for their choices.

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Advocating the benefits of vaccines in lowering the impact of serious illness 

People often talk about the positive impact that vaccines have had on their lives, quoting how vaccines have made them less vulnerable to infections compared to those who are not vaccinated.

They strongly believe that vaccines help to reduce the severity of symptoms and help in faster recoveries. In case of Covid or RSV, vaccines can also help prevent death or the need for hospitalization, consequently reducing the burden on the healthcare system and preventing hospitals from becoming overwhelmed during viral outbreaks.

During the flu season, vaccines minimizes the chances of catching the virus, specially when it comes to children who are more likely to catch an infection in schools or playgrounds. Furthermore, many parents are looking forward to the introduction of RSV vaccines as they believe it can help children who are more susceptible to it as well reduce the risk of serious illness in infants when administered to pregnant mothers.

Conflicting views around mixing vaccines brands and vaccine types

People have expressed a wide range of opinions when discussing the possibility of mixing vaccine brands or different types of vaccines.

While some people believe that mixing Covid vaccine brands could possibly boost their immunity, the lack of research done on this topic has made many uncertain. There are also worries about the  potential risks, safety, and efficacy if different mRNA vaccines were to be combined. Additionally, questions have been raised as to what impact combining multiple viruses’ vaccines can cause for one’s immune system. While some individuals have chosen to get both flu and covid vaccines around the same time in order to protect themselves from the triple-epidemic, those who experienced unusual side effects after getting the flu shot attributed it to the combination of the two vaccines.

Ultimately, it appears that more research and reliable answers are sought to address concerns around mixing vaccines.

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Declining trust in pharma brands, experts and the system post Covid-19

In the wake of Covid-19, many people have become increasingly distrustful of big pharma and their monopolistic practices in producing vaccines. People are becoming increasingly aware of how these brands are lying about their trial results and taking advantage of a crisis to make a profit without considering the potential and long term negative effects of their vaccines.

People are concerned that they were used as guinea pigs for mRNA vaccines during Covid. At the same time, by raising prices of vaccines they are making them unaffordable for those in need, while exploiting taxpayers’ money to advance their research. Furthermore, they are also worried that mRNA vaccines are being rapidly developed and rolled out without sufficient testing into the long term implications. This has also led to distrust towards future vaccines such as the RSV vaccine.

The lack of transparency and accountability within the healthcare system has further compounded this distrust with people believing that those in power prioritize profits over people's well being.

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