An Unforeseen Roadblock to Vaccination: The Anti-Vaxxers

Since the authorization of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States on December 14, 2021, vaccination has transpired exponentially nationwide, only to be encountered with an unforeseen roadblock – the “Anti-vaxxers.”

 

Although vaccines have been hailed as the answer to eradicating the pandemic, not everyone agrees. These people are often referred to as the “anti-vaxxers,” who oppose the use of vaccines for various reasons. 

 

The most common reason for vaccine opposition lies in people’s misconceptions about vaccination. 

 

For instance, there was a widespread belief that hygiene and sanitation make diseases disappear, not vaccines. The efficacy of vaccines has also been doubted by many skeptics, who presumed that pharmaceutical companies were only after their revenues.

 

However, the primary reason for anti-vaccination today is reportedly the belief that the risk of COVID-19 vaccines outweighs its benefits. The commonly believed potential dangers of vaccines are primarily associated with medical illnesses, most notably autism, which has been medically unfounded to date. 

 

As of April, despite the significant process of fully vaccinating 25% of the whole population, public officials are increasingly concerned that the supply of vaccines will soon outweigh its demand. 

 

According to a poll conducted by Monmouth University, approximately 1 in 5 Americans are unwilling to get vaccinated. With such increasing hesitancy among the citizens, New York Times has reported that mass vaccination sites across the country are already closing due to the decline in demand for vaccines, inducing fear that this trend would expedite the pandemic. 

 

“Personally, I can understand why some people oppose the use of vaccines,” commented Jason B., a sophomore at AISG. “My grandma is hesitant to get vaccinated since she is scared of the side effects.”

 

“I feel it is the duty of the government to vaccinate all its citizens,” remarked Max J., a sophomore at AISG. “People think that vaccines are useless if the disease disappears, but that is not true. Vaccines are what stop diseases.”

 

With the arising anti-vaccine sentiments, several social media channels have taken advantage of people’s incertitude through crafting provocative stories online and linking unconfirmed deaths to COVID-19 vaccination.

 

Deciding to forgo vaccination for oneself does not solely affect the individual. Instead, it has the potential to affect the people around them and lead to the reemergence of highly contagious diseases. Thus, it is prominent to base one’s decision with a doctor and prevent the potential risk of infecting others.