A review of the use of persuasion and coercion to overcome COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (original) (raw)

2021, Journal of PeerScientist

Vaccines against COVID-19 have been available for about one year, but compliance with these vaccines has been less than expected. Vaccine hesitancy and refusal have limited vaccination rates, thus contributing to morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19. This review explores the history of vaccines, beginning with their use in India over 3,500 years ago to prevent smallpox, and continuing through their current use to combat COVID-19. The past efforts of governments to compel individuals to get vaccinated are reviewed as well as the problems that resulted from such actions. Historical and contemporary factors that contribute to vaccine hesitancy are examined. One such factor is concern about the risks of the vaccines. Most adverse effects associated with the COVID-19 vaccines are mild. However, rare but serious adverse effects also occur including anaphylaxis, thrombosis, and myocarditis. Concerns about these potentially life-threatening complications contribute to vaccine hesitancy. The lack of an adequate system for reporting adverse events as well as the absence of an effective compensatory system to assist those who suffer untoward problems resulting from COVID-19 vaccines also contribute to vaccine hesitancy. Still another factor impeding vaccine compliance is lack of trust. This includes lack of trust in the vaccines, the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture the vaccines, the healthcare providers who recommend the vaccines, the governmental agencies who determine policies about the vaccines, and the media who report on the vaccines. The basis for mistrust in each of these areas is examined and includes a lack of transparency, ulterior financial motives, and suppression of alternative viewpoints. The effects of rumors and conspiracy theories on attitudes about vaccines are assessed as well. Finally, tactics utilized to increase vaccination rates are reviewed. These include education, persuasion, incentivization, and coercion. When education and persuasion fail, governments may turn to the use of coercive strategies, such as imposing vaccine mandates and implementing penalties and restrictions on those who fail to comply. The potential adverse consequences of these approaches are reviewed and include an unexpected decrease in vaccination rates, failure to protect individual autonomy, lack of informed consent associated with vaccinations, and polarization between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated leading to-vaccine tribalism.‖ Evidence demonstrating the efficacy of these approaches for improving vaccination compliance is found to be lacking. Thus, further research is recommended to find improved methods for improving vaccination rates as well as exploring alternative strategies for ending the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the concurrent use of effective antiviral treatments.