Anti-Vaccines Could Disrupt US Coronavirus Vaccinations

2023 Author: Abraham Higgins | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 23:16

Anti-Vaccines Could Disrupt US Coronavirus Vaccinations

Less than half of Americans are ready to be vaccinated against coronavirus after the vaccine is available, according to a survey. Given the level of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 in the United States, this is critically small, experts say.

Photo: Nate Beever / PoliticalCartoons.com

According to The Guardian, the anti-vaxxers movement has become more widespread in the latter, thanks in large part to two well-funded organizations: Stop Mandatory Vaccination and Children's Health Defense. The latter is led by eco-activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr, son of famed Senator Robert Kennedy. Through the efforts of these organizations, more Americans are moving away from childhood vaccinations, contributing, in part, to the largest measles outbreak in a generation in 2019.

Now anti-vaccine users have a new target - the coronavirus vaccine, which, according to various sources, may appear by the end of 2020. Opponents of vaccinations participated in all protests against the self-isolation regime, they also put forward and are actively spreading the most popular conspiracy theories on social networks, including the version that Bill Gates needs vaccination for worldwide chipping in order to total control over the population.

In early May, a poll showed that at least 23% of Americans are not ready to get vaccinated against coronavirus, another 22% doubt it. According to a new survey by the Associated Press-NORC, only 49% of Americans said they are ready to receive the vaccine once it becomes available. 20% of respondents were against vaccination, another 31% doubt it. At the same time, people aged 60 and over (67%) spoke in favor of vaccinations against coronavirus, while almost two-thirds of anti-vaccines are Americans from 18 to 59 years old.

The Guardian notes that with the highest incidence of COVID-19 in the United States (1.6 million cases) and absolute leadership in mortality - 100 thousand deaths - such a percentage of vaccine refusal can have very dangerous consequences. In other words, vaccination may not help develop herd immunity.

The anti-vaccination movement is also actively developing in other countries: last week there were reports of an increase in anti-vaccination sentiment in Germany and Australia. Measles cases in Europe tripled in 2018, with more than 83,000 cases in Ukraine, where the anti-vaccine movement is gaining momentum.

“You have to understand that this is a very“loud”community that has access to the dissemination of information throughout the world. The only way to counter them is through advocacy. Doctors should not disdain parents who succumb to these sentiments, but rather answer their questions in detail and respect, not shout at them,”said Yale University epidemiologist Saad Omer.

According to a recent poll by VTsIOM, more than half of Russians (59%) are interested in getting themselves or family members vaccinated against coronavirus. Moreover, 26% are absolutely sure of the need for such vaccination. The greatest readiness was expressed by people over 60 years old (70% of the number of respondents in the age group), respondents from 18 to 24 years old (68%) and from 35 to 44 years old (63%).

More than a third of respondents (35%) said that they would not get vaccinated against coronavirus, 6% believe that such vaccination in Russia should not be carried out in principle. The majority were in favor of vaccination against coronavirus on a voluntary basis - this is the opinion of 70% of respondents.