Fear about adverse effect on fertility is a major cause of COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy in the United States

“…According to the findings of an online survey conducted by Turocy et al ( 2021 ) with fertility patients and those hoping to conceive in the next 6 months ( n = 284), more than half of the total participants were hesitant to accept Covid-19 vaccines due to fears of ‘birth defects, unknown long-term health effects on children and risk of pregnancy loss’ (Turocy et al 2021 ). Another survey study by Diaz et al ( 2021 ) also found that fear of adverse effects on fertility was a major cause of Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy in the United States. In this study, it was found that ‘38% of unvaccinated survey respondents believed that COVID-19 vaccines could negatively impact an individual’s fertility, while approximately one-third remained unsure’ (Diaz et al 2021 : p. 2).…”

Section: Data Results and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another survey study by Diaz et al ( 2021 ) also found that fear of adverse effects on fertility was a major cause of Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy in the United States. In this study, it was found that ‘38% of unvaccinated survey respondents believed that COVID-19 vaccines could negatively impact an individual’s fertility, while approximately one-third remained unsure’ (Diaz et al 2021 : p. 2).…”

Section: Data Results and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions and attitudes towards Covid-19 vaccines: narratives from members of the UK public

Ajana

Engstler

Ismail

et al. 2022

J Public Health (Berl.)

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Aim The aim of the paper is to enhance understanding of how members of the public make sense of the Covid-19 vaccines and to understand the factors influencing their attitudes towards such artefacts of pandemic governance. Methods The paper draws on 23 online in-depth interviews with members of the UK public and builds on relevant literature to examine participants’ perceptions of the benefits and risks of Covid-19 vaccines, the sources that have shaped their attitudes, and the level of trust they have towards the government’s handling of the pandemic through vaccines. Results The findings indicate that participants generally felt that the benefits of having the vaccine outweigh the risks and that Covid-19 vaccines are a crucial mechanism for enabling society to return to normal. Vaccine acceptance was, for some, strongly linked to a sense of social responsibility and the duty to protect others. However, some participants expressed concerns with regard to the side-effects of Covid-19 vaccines and their perceived potential impact on fertility and DNA makeup. Participants used various sources of information to learn about Covid-19 vaccines and understand their function, benefits, and risks. The majority of participants criticised the government’s response during the early stages of the pandemic yet felt positive about the vaccine rollout. Conclusion Just as with any other vaccination programme, the success of the Covid-19 immunisation campaigns does not only depend on the efficacy of the vaccines themselves or the ability to secure access to them, but also on a myriad of other factors which include public compliance and trust in governments and health authorities. To support an effective immunisation campaign that is capable of bringing the pandemic to an end, governments need to understand public concerns, garner trust, and devise adequate strategies for engaging the public and building more resilient societies.

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“…Contemporaneously, getting three vaccinations, in particular those based on mRNA, has been found to reduce the risk of infection and severe courses of COVID-19 with no safety concerns [33] , [34] . The gap between the study results and current prevalences might be influenced by remaining fear of the vaccines (about effects on fertility [35] , adverse side effects [36] ), uncertainty with changing regulations and frustration in particular concerning political statutes [37] . In general, a survey of 811 healthcare workers before the possibility to get vaccinated showed that people needing more information about COVID-19 and people believing COVID-19 not to be a severe illness had more concerns about this vaccine [38] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%