Efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 undermined by concerns over vaccine side effects
Physicians say they hear: "You don't need a vaccine if you've had COVID-19," "The vaccine modifies your DNA," and "The vaccine contains a microchip."
Photo: lechatoir/Getty Images
As the rate of people receiving COVID-19 vaccinations has slowed, a new survey of physicians has revealed that doctors are working hard to combat vaccine hesitancy, even among those who have already received their first dose.
More than 72% of physicians surveyed said that patients continue to voice concerns over vaccine side effects. Still others have reported ongoing misinformation discouraging people from getting vaccines. And close to 30% of physicians reported encountering patients who have skipped their second dose due to unpleasant side effects from the first dose, or concerns over side effects.
Sermo's COVID-19 Real Time Barometer also showed more than half of physicians report their patients have requested a specific vaccine with a clear preference for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, as 78% of physicians indicated it's the most requested, and Moderna following at a distant second (7%). In Europe, almost 93% of physicians reported Pfizer-BioNTech was the most requested.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
Conducted from May 4 to May 8, more than 3,000 physicians around the world provided feedback, of which close to 40% have treated between 10 and 100 patients with COVID. The survey found most physicians are currently not optimistic that COVID-19 will be eradicated, with 75% of physicians believing vaccine boosters will be required annually. Of that, 35% believe their patients will likely see it as similar to the annual flu shot.
This may be attributed to ongoing vaccine hesitancy. In addition to worries over side effects, physicians reported they have also heard ongoing concerns about safety and efficacy (60%) or erroneous or misinformation, such as, "You don't need a vaccine if you've had COVID-19" (32%), "The vaccine modifies your DNA" (29%) or "The vaccine contains a microchip" (15%).
Physicians are countering the vaccination resistance mostly by discussing the risk benefit profile (80%) and the impact COVID-19 can have on others (61%), while 14% are connecting patients to community resources such as peer engagement, but not finding success.
The findings suggest an urgency to counter misinformation, and to share the approaches that have been successful in convincing people to get vaccinated. Vaccinations are seen as key to stemming the spread of the virus, as herd immunity is achieved when a critical mass of the population becomes inoculated.
Meanwhile, data is continuing to emerge on the long-term implications of COVID-19, including the development of neurological or mental disorders, a topic extensively discussed at the recent American Academy of Neurology virtual meeting this year. While almost half of physicians think it's too soon to tell, a significant number of physicians, 30%, believe COVID-19 is a neurotropic disease that can cross the blood-brain barrier and cause direct damage to the brain, rather than a respiratory illness that can have neurological side effects.
In addition, 30% reported the pandemic has helped patients with social anxiety disorder/social phobia, and depression and mood disorders (29%) that may arise from avoidance of social situations and other in-person encounters by allowing more time for self-reflection and personal development.
THE LARGER TREND
Nationally, vaccination efforts are trending in the right direction. As of May 14, the seven-day average of daily new cases stood at 35,442, a 23.6% decrease compared with the previous seven-day average of 46,390, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Compared with the highest peak on January 8, which was 250,037, the current seven-day average has decreased 85.8%. A total of 32,643,851 COVID-19 cases have been reported as of May 12.
A KFF survey published March 30 found that 17% of the public said they would take a wait-and-see approach before getting vaccinated. Another 20% said they would never get a vaccine or would only get it if required to do so for work, school or other activities. This leaves a significant portion of the population at risk of going unvaccinated, the Cleveland Clinic said.
Vaccine hesitancy rates dropped between last fall and March.
In late April, the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic teamed up to lead a coalition of 60 hospitals and healthcare institutions in a nationwide campaign to encourage adults to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Get the Vaccine to Save Lives is designed to reassure the public that vaccines are safe, effective and necessary to achieve herd immunity and return to normal,
The campaign's goal is to reach adults who are hesitant to receive a vaccine, including racial and minority ethnic groups and people living in rural communities.
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com
