Health

Studies show that hesitation of the COVID-19 vaccine in young adults may interfere with herd immunity

The research team analyzed data from the March 2021 Household Pulse Survey. This is a nationally representative online population sample conducted by the US Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics, and other agencies.

A recent study from the University of California, San Francisco reported that about one in four unvaccinated people between the ages of 18 and 25 would not or “never” receive the COVID-19 vaccination. doing. Demographic groups are more likely to infect COVID-19 than other age groups.

Of the 5082 respondents, 83% reported that they were not vaccinated, 10% said they would never be vaccinated, and 14% said they would probably not.

“Young adults infected with COVID are susceptible to long-term complications and debilitating symptoms such as dyspnea, loss of smell, and brain fog, regardless of symptoms, and are sometimes referred to as” long COVID. ” Estimates of long-term COVID symptoms range from 10 to 50%, which is a serious concern for young adults given the high infection rates and low vaccination rates, “said lead author Sally Adams, PhD. , RN states in a press release. “Rapid vaccination may help limit further outbreaks and infection rates of toxic mutants among vulnerable unvaccinated individuals.”

More than half of unvaccinated respondents said they would never / probably would not be vaccinated and were also concerned about possible side effects (AEs). Meanwhile, the other half said they would wait for the vaccine to be safe and see if it might be available at a later date. The results show that within this group, one-third do not trust the vaccine, and less than one in ten probably get the vaccine.

Senior author Charles Irwin Jr., MD, said the recent increase in cardiac inflammation in teens and young adults seen with the Pfizer / BioNTech and Modana vaccines may have increased fear of vaccination. I said there is.

“It is important to note that the rate of heart inflammation in vaccinated adolescents is only slightly higher than in unvaccinated adolescents. In most cases, the symptoms are mild and minimal. Limited treatment will solve it, “Erwin said in a press release. “As a result, the majority of providers support the CDC and other advisory bodies that continue to recommend vaccines to everyone over the age of 12.”

Researchers are recommending public education campaigns to continue addressing this type of concern about vaccine safety and AE.

“We need an education and public health message to encourage vaccination of young adults, ideally including social media and clinicians who play an important role in reducing vaccination hesitation in young and adult patients. We will take advantage of our key influence, “Irwin said in a press release.

reference

Vaccine hesitation in young adults can interfere with herd immunity. UCSF. July 14, 2021. Accessed on July 15, 2021. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2021/07/420991/vaccine-hesitancy-young-adults-may-hamper-herd-immunity

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Studies show that hesitation of the COVID-19 vaccine in young adults may interfere with herd immunity