‘Strong & clear game-plan needed to overcome vaccination hesitancy’
Vaccine hesitancy is the hot topic of the day in Sri Lanka when so many millions of doses are freely available in the country.
There are several reasons for people not taking their vaccines, said Consultant Respiratory Physician Dr. Neranjan Dissanayake who ch a t s to all patients who seek treatment at his clinics and his w a rd at the Ratnapura Teaching Hospital.
He reiterates that any strategy to overcome vaccine hesitancy should be clearcut and targeted, addressing the concerns of people in a simple but factual manner. An important step towards reducing misconceptions is to investigate the reported side-effects thoroughly in a scientific way and alleviate fears.
Some of the concerns mentioned to him by people who remain unvaccinated are: Many people are still not fully aware of the benefits they would accrue from becoming fully vaccinated ( 1st and 2nd doses and also the booster or the 3rd dose). They have not comprehended the fact that vaccines
against COVID-19 do reduce severe disease and death, especially in vulnerable groups. They do not know that these vulnerable groups can face death and severe disease even if infected by the so- called mild Omicron variant.
Dr. Dissanayake says that they simply do not understand the gravity of being unvaccinated. Some younger patients have got themselves vaccinated but have not given the jabs to their elderly relatives. From his interactions with patients, he has found that the vaccine uptake is better among the rural people than the semi- urban and urban population. He says that it is distressing that educated
people in society are more hesitant in getting themselves and their loved ones vaccinated.
Another important factor is that whether it is a vaccine, medication or medical intervention, there could be side- effects. As such, what we need to consider is the risk-benefit ratio.
If there is vaccine hesitancy, we must think:
What happens if I am unvaccinated and I get COVID-19? – I could get severe disease and die.
What happens if I am vaccinated and get a few side- effects? Then if I get COVID-19, it will be mild disease, I will not get severe disease which will send me to hospital and I will not die.
Vaccination against COVID19 has been proven, according to worldwide studies, to prevent severe disease and death. This obviously is a positive impact that vaccination would have on family, society and the country.
Some of Dr. Dissanayake’s patients have attributed an increase of previous ailments such as wheezing to vaccination. However, when he takes a detailed case history, he has found that the vaccine had been taken more than a month before and the patient had not been taking his/her regular medications for the previous ailment.
In a small neighbourhood or village, though, if such a story goes around that hathiya wediwuna ( panting increased), there would be a reluctance among the people in that area or village to take the vaccine.
Another major factor is that people are confused as to when they should take their vaccine doses.
The Health Ministry has specified that ‘Fully vaccinated’ for the eligible category (20 years and above) means that a person has taken two doses of a recommended COVID-19 vaccine and has completed 2 weeks after the second dose. The ‘fully vaccinated status’ will be valid for 3 months from the second dose.
After 3 months of the second dose, a person is considered ‘fully vaccinated’, only if the booster ( 3rd dose) is taken.
If infected with COVID-19 after being vaccinated with two doses, the booster can be taken after 1 month of the infection, provided the person has completed 3 months after the 2nd dose.
Some people also do not know where they can get the vaccines – where they should go, to get the vaccine. When they hear that vaccination has taken place in their area when they were not at home, they are puzzled as to what to do. They also have to work to earn their living and so the need to get the jab is put off. Meanwhile, due to misunderstanding certain vaccine providers, there is a hesitancy in vaccinating those with mild food allergies, wheezing and co-morbidities and also those who are pregnant. Dr. Dissanayake also laments that in some communities, vaccine penetration of the 3rd dose is quite low, not even re a ching 20%. Therefore, a special focus needs to be cast at these areas.
This Respiratory Physician reiterates a very relevant point when he requests people to look at healthcare workers – “we represent Sri Lankan society in every way, be it age (over 20 years); different races; different religions; being healthy; being obese or not; having co-morbidities; and leading or not leading healthy lifestyles. You say it and it is there among us”.
In the first wave, before vaccination, many healthcare workers had severe disease and regrettably some of them died. But after the vaccination rollout, the number hit by severe disease was negligible, he says, adding that people should follow in the footsteps of healthcare workers and prudently get themselves fully vaccinated.