Abstract

INCENTIVIZING VACCINATION UPTAKE

Amal John James*, Abdulla Shareef, Dhanya Dharman and Shaiju S. Dharan

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Abstract

Vaccine hesitancy, identified in 2019 by the World Health Organization as one of the major threats to global health, has become a potentially more important issue during the COVID-19 pandemic. After a year of worldwide morbidity, mortality, social distancing, and lockdowns, and despite the development of several clinically tested and efficacious vaccines, not everyone is willing to be vaccinated. In light of the devastating health, economic, and social effects of the pandemic, the availability of effective vaccines represents an important component of the hope to return society to normalcy. However, some have expressed concerns regarding the fast-tracked new technology involved with the development of COVID-19 vaccines, and these, along with the well-established concerns of vaccine opponents, have contributed to substantial hesitance regarding the willingness to seek and receive these vaccines. For instance, a nationally representative survey conducted in March-April 2020, with sample sizes ranging from 1041 (Ireland) to 2025 (UK), reported rates of potential acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines of 65% in Ireland and 69% in the UK.[1]

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