Vaccine Hesitancy

Vaccine hesitancy: How can nurses respond to the nation's opposition and skepticism of vaccines?  by Nickitas is an article concerning vaccine hesitancy. The journal questions the reason behind the slowdown in vaccinations considering increases in vaccine supplies, eligibility to youth over 12 years, and have approximately 60% of the adult population with at least one shot. The concerning question necessitates timely efforts by nurses to respond to the population's opposition and skepticism of vaccines, considering doing nothing is not an option when a considerable gap exists between the vaccinated and unvaccinated population. Therefore, the journal reports the increase in vaccine capacity for the nation, reports the reason behind the slowdown, and offers the case for herd immunity. In magnifying the rise in vaccine capacity for the country, the journal provides an overview of vaccine supplies and those that are skeptical about getting vaccinated and their reasons (including the nursing population).  The author suggests the slowdown is due to vaccine hesitancy and provides an overview of the situation. Lastly, the final section explains the threshold of achieving herd immunity in resisting coronavirus.

The Covid-19 vaccine is an example of a vaccine that patients are very hesitant to receive or parents are very reluctant to have administered to their children. There are multiple misconceptions concerning the Covid-19 vaccines that spread through social media, magnifying some concerning issues (Sallam, 2021). The widespread of such news made those who have not gone for the vaccine fear going for the shot. The situation equally made those who had gone for the first shot fear completing the dose. The lack of adequate information concerning the Covid-19 vaccines also contributes to the hesitancy of individuals to get vaccinated (Vergara et al., 2021). The children equally get prevented by their parents from going for the vaccines subject to fear. Considering the lack of information concerning the likely effects of taking the shot, the fear for the young ones going for the vaccines is greater with parents seeking to protect their children (a fete that sometimes proves costly due to overprotection or misjudged decisions). There is a need to address vaccine hesitancy in the case of a slowdown in intake of the Covid-19 vaccines.

Drawing on concepts in the read article, I would approach the hesitant population (patient, parent, or guardian) through mobilization campaigns to discuss their hesitancy and benefits of immunization. The main reason behind the hesitation is the lack of knowledge or information concerning the vaccine. The fake news and other individuals' skepticism concerning the vaccines make the hesitant population fear going for the vaccines or "protecting" their children from acquiring the vaccination. The best way to address the reluctant population is through providing the much-needed information concerning the benefits of getting immunized against Covid-19. There are multiple platforms to provide such information, such as through advertisements, leaders, and, most importantly, community-based social units that are highly interactive. There is a need to respond to questions the hesitant population has concerning the vaccines while reassuring the people concerning the benefits of getting vaccinated. I believe lobbying is the best way I would take to address the vaccine hesitancy.

I think the selected approach in addressing vaccine hesitancy would be effective. According to Nickitas (2021), "vaccination mobilization will address persistent health disparities by offering support and resources to vulnerable individuals and medically underserved communities, including BIPOC, and individuals living in areas of high social vulnerability." The author suggests that campaigns involving door-to-door and person-by-person efforts to educate and help individuals access and receive vaccines will increase herd immunity. I concur with the author's observations considering the power in information and dispelling the skepticism that prevents adults from getting vaccinated and, by extension, their young ones. Reassuring such individuals concerning the positive effects of going for the shot subject to honest and accurate information concerning the expected body responses to getting the shot will make a case for going for immunization. Therefore, specific information provision is an incentive that I believe would reduce vaccine hesitancy in this case.

Other interventions that I would try regards mobilizing the healthcare service providers to lead by example and expanding insurance covers to accommodate a larger population. Leading by example will reassure the people concerning the benefits of going for vaccination for the first measure. Nickitas (2021) reports an existing gap between vaccinated and unvaccinated nurses, which is concerning. The population goes by what the health professionals do, especially on such matters, considering it involves their field of operation. By mobilizing nurses to get the shot to commendable levels approaching 100%, individuals skeptical about getting the vaccine would change their minds (or many of them will change their minds). For the second intervention measure, probably some individuals want to get vaccinated, yet due to their financial situation, they cannot go for the vaccines. There is a need to expand medical insurance cover to address the plight of such populations, thereby encouraging every individual to go for the shot. Herd immunity is achievable; however, there is a need to bolster vaccine hesitancy intervention measures.