We now have high-quality information on how to tackle the vexed question of vaccine hesitancy and we must use it wisely, according to UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Didier Trebucq.
Speaking at the 14 January virtual launch of a groundbreaking study on vaccine hesitancy across six countries in the subregion, Trebucq noted, “If we are to find our way out of this pandemic, vaccination is the best answer. If we don’t get the pandemic under control, we may well be looking at a lost decade of development.”
More than 5,000 people were interviewed for the study across Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. Commissioned by UNICEF, funded by USAID and conducted by the Caribbean Development Research Services Inc (CADRES), the wide-ranging study reports that the typical unvaccinated person in the region is under 30, out of formal work and educated to secondary level.
The report also reveals that unvaccinated respondents believe that the vaccines were developed too quickly, are uncertain about what is in them and it is simply their choice not to take them.
According to Trebucq, there is room for hope however, “The study provides insight into what might change minds. 51% cite the need for more medical and scientific information. Over 40% want to know more about side effects and efficacy. 30% want information on the impact of the vaccine on sexual health and their ability to have children. These are all rich veins to explore.”
The research also suggests that vaccine promotion interventions need to be tailored to their audience. “It shows us that different countries have different vaccine hesitancy factors and we need to respond accordingly. No one size fits all,” said Dr Aloys Kamuragiye, UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean Area. “I urge all ministries of health and other stakeholders working to address the vaccine hesitancy phenomenon to take this data seriously,” he added.
Several ministers of health at the launch agreed that the research would help guide future policy. Lt. the Most Honourable Col. Jeffrey Bostic, Minister of Health and Wellness in Barbados, maintained, “We are really happy and appreciative of the efforts on the part of USAID and UNICEF and all those responsible for doing this very important work…We look forward to implementing as many of the recommendations as possible.”
The importance of working collaboratively was also stressed by Dave Schnier, Deputy Chief of Mission for the US Embassy in Barbados. “Through partnerships with government and stakeholders the US is committed to helping Caribbean governments everywhere overcome vaccine hesitancy. We are proud to work with our partners gathered here to achieve this goal.”
You can view the full report and executive summary here.
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There are studies coming out of Canada, Denmark, Britain, and another country that actually show that after a given period the risk benefit goes steeply into the negative, in other words it is more risky to be vaccinated. Certainly it is recognised that your immunity is DEPRESSED for 2 weeks after immunisation, and with every shot, the time before its efficacy can be counted on gets shorter. Combined with data and concerns from sundry government advisors in the UK that you should NOT keep on boosting as it causes the immune system to become depleted by being over exited every time you get a shot.
Omicron whilst not to be treated frivolously is tending to be much less dangerous, added to the fact that in the UK at least deaths from Covid….. still mostly Delta are at a level the same as for flue at around 300 per day. As you can only die once, and if Delta didn’t get you the flue would have done, and we haven’t shut down society for regular flue since 1918, it is as they keep on saying around the World now, time to learn to live with it while it increasing becomes endemic.
The vaccine boat has sailed. It is long past time for the authorities to face up to the mess they have created, and instead of denying early treatment, supply cheap and effective off label medicines, and encourage us to lose weight, and live healthier lives.
We need to be cautious, not go rushing up in peoples faces, and maintain good hygiene, but it is time for the hypochondria to disappear.
Well, what do you expect.
Have there ever been a vaccine that force you to wear a mask and maintain social distancing, even when fully vaccinated. Or one that allows you to spread the virus even after vaccination. I’ve never heard of rewards, discounts, incentives to get vaccinated. I never saw discrimination for those who didn’t. If you haven’t been vaccinated no one has tried to make you feel like a bad person. I’ve never seen a vaccine that threatens family relationships, colleagues and friends. I’ve never seen a vaccine used to threaten livelihoods, travel, employment or education.
I’ve never seen a vaccine that would allow 2-year old’s to override parental consent. After all that mention above, I’ve never seen a vaccine like this one, which discriminates, divides, and judge’s society as this. And, as our social fabric tightens…It’s indeed a powerful vaccine! It does all these things except IMMUNISATION.
If we still need a booster dose after we are fully vaccinated, and we still need to wear a mask after fully vaccinated, and still need a negative test after fully vaccinated, and still be hospitalized after we have been fully vaccinated…. It will most likely come to a point where we all agree we’ve been completely deceived.
WALOB WAC
The C-19 narrative is falling apart world wide. The pushers are starting to backtrack and act very remorseful in the hope they will avoid the wrath to come. Newly released data from New Zealand shows that the cure is more than twice as dangerous as the disease, and that’s only on day one. Only fairy tales are allowed, but the consequences of what’s been done are going to be devastating for years to come.
@ADM I could not of said it better myself.
Whether vaccinated or not people really need to sit down and wonder why is this vaccine being forced upon human society.
If you take it you are still exposed to catching the vaccine so if choose not to take it and I am still exposed how am I being selfish. I hear governments all over state by taking the vaccine you are not only doing it for yourself being doing for everyone around you.
How?
When if I am still able to get the vaccine and pass it on how am I protecting the wider mass.
But when I refuse your painted out to bed a problem in society.
For me when an agenda is forced upon people. Something is not right?