Not Everyone Dealing With Vaccine Hesitancy Is An Anti-Vaxxer

There are other reasons people are hesitating

Last week, Governor Whitmer rolled out a four-step plan to reach the 70% vaccination goal and reach herd immunity. It looked like a simple plan. All we have to do is schedule vaccination appointments and get the shots. We didn’t have to be fully vaccinated either. We only need the first dose, and restrictions will start easing.

Right now, over 50% of the state had its first dose of the vaccine. We’re not far off from the first benchmark. However, a wave of vaccine hesitancy is making it harder to get people their first dose. Compared to a month ago, the vaccine supply outweighs the demand. Even with scheduling an appointment super easy, people are still hesitating to get the shot.

It’s not an anti-vax issue but a wait-and-see issue

It’s important to point out that a majority of the people hesitating aren’t against vaccines. Many of these people like vaccines and keep up with their immunizations. These people hesitate because they feel the vaccine came out too quickly. Many people worry about the side effects.

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine pause didn’t help calm their worries. Right now, the CDC is investigating the death of a West Michigan woman who took the J&J vaccine.

Michigan residents 65 and older are leading the way with vaccinations. Over 70% of that age group had their first dose. Almost 70% of the age group is fully vaccinated. The CEO of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association released a statement saying the reason there were so many hospitalizations is that a younger, unvaccinated crowd is getting the severe symptoms of COVID-19.

Here are some ways the state is fighting vaccine hesitancy:

The state is working hard to make sure accurate information is getting out there to hesitant people. The state is also working with communities less likely to get the vaccine so they can encourage others to do the same.

At least three universities are requiring students and faculty to get vaccinated. U of M isn’t letting any student live on campus unless they had one of the COVID-19 vaccines.

People, especially health care workers, are taking to social media to show their vaccine cards and openly talk about their experiences with the vaccine.

The most important gift you can give someone hesitating is empathy

If you know someone who’s hesitating to get the vaccine, you don’t want to berate them. You don’t want to tell anyone they’re part of the problem. It will not motivate someone to run to a clinic to get a shot. Instead, approach them with kindness and empathy for their fears. Don’t be afraid to talk about your reactions to the vaccine if you had one already. The more honest you are in your conversation, the better it will be for someone on the fence.

You might not change that person’s mind about getting a vaccine right away. You might not change their mind at all. But an open and honest conversation about their fears and your experiences can get someone thinking about the best decision for themselves and their families.

Originally published at https://www.newsbreak.com on May 5, 2021.