Michael Abrahams | Empathy for the vaccine-hesitant

Last week, I was told of a man who took his wife to be vaccinated, but opted not to take the vaccine. He later got COVID-19 and died. His wife is alive. A few weeks ago, I was informed of a woman who accompanied her husband to a vaccination site. He was vaccinated, but she chose not to be. She later died from COVID-19. He is alive.

I must confess, initially I had little patience for people who refused vaccination. Being in the medical field and understanding the principles of vaccination, and how these new vaccines were developed, and how they work, and also understanding how COVID-19 affects the body, I did not hesitate to get vaccinated. I fear COVID-19 far more than I fear the vaccines. But that is me.

I have come to realise as a doctor, that to be efficient in the execution of my duties, I must listen without judgement and empathise if I am to be of maximum benefit to those under my care. In doing so, I have come to realise that the vaccine-hesitant are not a homogeneous group.

People refuse the COVID-19 vaccines for a variety of reasons. It is unfair to assume that if someone does not wish to be vaccinated, they are an anti-vaxxer. Anti-vaxxers are people who oppose vaccination of any kind. Regarding the COVID-19 vaccines, many who have declined it are not against vaccination, but are wary specifically of these new vaccines. It is also unreasonable to label those who refuse the vaccines as being stupid or selfish. Some people have been swayed by misinformation or religious beliefs, or are bullied by others close to them, such as family members, co-workers, members of their church or clergy.

RATIONAL CONCERNS AND FEARS

But many of the vaccine-hesitant are intelligent people with rational concerns and fears. Some are concerned that the vaccines have not been around long enough to demonstrate that they are safe and devoid of adverse, long-term effects. Some are aware of acute side effects and complications, and even death following vaccination, and it scares them. Some have serious and understandable trust issues with pharmaceutical companies and others in positions of authority and influence, such as our political leaders. After all, the same people who are unrepentant about opening up a poorly vaccinated and vulnerable country when the arrival of the most virulent strain of the virus was imminent, contributing to a lethal surge, are the same ones insisting that people take the vaccine.

Several of the hesitant also believe there is a lack of transparency regarding information about adverse effects of the vaccines. They also see vaccine critics and proponents of other forms of therapy being silenced and the censorship disturbs them, leading them to wonder if there are nefarious motives for pushing global vaccination. Some are aware of the waning efficacy of vaccination with each new strain of the virus and question the efficacy of the jab.

Some people will argue that you can be vaccinated and still get sick from COVID-19 and die. That is true. There is no denying that. We are all vulnerable. However, those who are not vaccinated are even more vulnerable, as the data is showing that the vaccinated have a lower risk of serious illness, need for oxygen, hospitalisation and death when compared with the unvaccinated.

BEST INTEREST

If you are unvaccinated, it may be in your best interest to consider taking the vaccine. I took it, and every family member in my house, except my youngest child who is ineligible, is also vaccinated. I too have my concerns. I know it is not perfect. But in my opinion, the potential benefits outweigh the risks, especially in older people.

When I wear a seat belt in my car, I know I can still be fatally injured in a motor vehicle accident. I am also aware that the seat belt can injure me during a collision. In fact, a friend of mine recently had her clavicle fractured by her seat belt when another vehicle collided with hers, but her head was spared from trauma. And that is why we wear them, to lower the risk of head injury or being hurled through the windshield. It is all about risk reduction. The same applies to these vaccines.

For those of us who believe in the usefulness of the vaccines, if we are to combat vaccine hesitancy, scolding, insulting, and threatening the hesitant will not only fail to achieve the desired effect, but also create acrimony, resentment, and division.

Those in positions of authority who wish to influence the hesitant must be transparent about the mechanisms of action, side effects and efficacy of the vaccines, and balance this against the deleterious effects of COVID-19 on the body, including ‘long COVID’. For example, there are people who get COVID-19 and survive, but have been permanently scarred physically, mentally, or both.

We are all trying to get out of this alive. Empathy, respect, honesty, and transparency must be employed if we are to have a successful vaccination programme.

Michael Abrahams is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, social commentator, and human-rights advocate. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and michabe_1999@hotmail.com, or follow him on Twitter @mikeyabrahams.