Poll lists false side effects as cause of vaccine hesitancy

• As more and more Americans are getting the COVID-19 vaccine, there is still a lingering vaccine hesitancy.
• A recent poll revealed that vaccine hesitancy may be attributed to anxiety about potential side effects.
• Several respondents listed false side effects, however, such as infertility, potential birth defects, and even cancer.

Several Americans have remained hesitant to get vaccinated from COVID-19. While some may have valid concerns about potential side effects, there were several who listed false or undocumented side effects, such as DNA alteration.

The responses to a recent Harris poll were reported by Axios on Monday.

Around 1,061 survey respondents said that they are not likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine due to potential side effects. Among these, 60 percent listed blood clots, which have indeed been reported as a potential but extremely rare side effect.

Potential flu-like symptoms, which are also possible after getting the shots, were listed by about 65 percent of baby boomers and half of Generation Z respondents.

However, about 24 percent listed infertility and potential birth defects, which are not possible side effects from any of the approved vaccines being administered.

Another false side effect, cancer, was cited by twenty-two percent.

The survey conducted interviews on April 23 to 25 and May 7 to 9.

The lingering vaccine hesitancy may continue to be a stumbling block for the Biden administration, which seeks to inoculate more Americans in harder-to-reach areas.

President Joe Biden announced a new goal earlier this month, which is to administer at least one shot into 70 percent of Americans and to provide full vaccination to at least 160 million adults by July 4. 

Biden said on May 4, “As we anticipated, the pace of vaccinations is slowing, now that the majority of American adults have already gotten their first shot. Soon we’ll have reached the adults who are most eager to get vaccinated and at that point this effort will shift to a new phase.”

Source: The Hill