Scott Carlson makes it a point to call his elderly parents every week. Every time he asks if he can schedule an appointment for a vaccination against the coronavirus, and every time the answer is no. The reason varies from week to week: they fear allergic reactions or claim they are too old to need the vaccine.
His parents, in their mid- to late 80’s, live in senior apartments in a rural part of Wisconsin, an hour’s drive from Milwaukee, where Carlson lives. Six people contracted Covid-19 in their building and three died from it.
‘I feel like my mom thinks she’s invulnerable, while she thinks my dad isn’t. They know it can be serious, but they have an arrogant attitude towards it, ”Carlson told me. “I think because people die in their building in a certain year of old age, as they never did [personally] met someone who’s had Covid, they don’t see the problem. As much as Carlson troubled, he has tried to be persistent and “proactive with the dialogue,” even offering to take them to the immunization site. So far they have continued to decline.
From health workers to military personnel to older adults like Carlson’s parents, about 20 percent of American adults are reportedly not planning on getting the Covid-19 vaccine and are “ pretty sure ” that more information won’t change their mind, according to a December survey from Pew Research Center. The study found that people have generally become more confident about the vaccine development process, but Americans’ opinions about its safety and effectiveness still vary.
Adults like Carlson, who are not high on the priority list, would like eligible family members to have a chance, as new Covid-19 variants are discovered and infections are rampant in most states. So these refusals can be frustrating and emotional. Many people have put off visiting relatives for months out of caution for their health and now feel helpless about their loved ones’ reluctance to get vaccinated.
Some note that their families had not previously expressed anti-vaccination feelings, and fear that this renewed hesitation may be the result of misinformation – on social media and right-wing news sites, or from their family’s social circles. While Facebook, Twitter and Google have enacted policies to remove misinformation related to the coronavirus, media researchers say opinions and personal beliefs about a vaccine are more challenging to navigate.
“The platforms have no control over people’s opinions,” researcher Darren Linvill told the Washington Post. ‘They can’t stop someone from saying,’ I’m not going to take the vaccine because I don’t think it’s safe. And it is those thoughts and opinions that have as much of an effect on online communities as real fake news or actual misinformation. “
Throughout his childhood, Carlson remembers his parents as very health conscious people, getting flu shots every year and vaccinating his brother and him completely. “They weren’t skeptical about vaccines in general,” he said. “They’re not on social media, but they do watch Fox News and may be influenced by other residents in the building.” His parents live in a rural and conservative town, he said, and some of their neighbors despise wearing masks.
Vaccines hesitate for a variety of reasons, and researchers found that these attitudes are not uniform and do not necessarily hold true for all vaccines; for example, the novelty of the Covid-19 vaccine and its rapid development process are of concern to some. However, it is important to note that these vaccines were manufactured under rigorous scientific scrutiny and tested in clinical trials before being publicly distributed. Existing data confirms that the available vaccines are effective in protecting the recipient against the most serious Covid-19 outcomes, and that extreme side effects from the injection are extremely rare. Scientists argue that getting people vaccinated is critical as each vaccination brings the US closer to herd immunity.
In September, Vox’s Brian Resnick reported that women are more hesitant about a vaccine, as are political conservatives and people living in rural areas. Of particular concern to scientists is the reluctance and access to vaccines in black communities, which have already been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The hesitation of the vaccine – and outright refusal – is reflected in issues of health equality, according to public health experts. Racial differences in medical treatment and access and ineffective public communication can erode people’s confidence in healthcare. Older adults without digitally-savvy caregivers are left behind in the vaccine rollout, as are those without access to private transportation methods.
The lack of existing vaccination data is also troubling to researchers, USA Today reported. Only 16 states release the number of vaccinations by race and ethnicity, and without widespread disaggregation of data, it is difficult to measure how minorities, rural, and low-income communities are affected. “The challenge,” Resnick wrote for Vox, “is that each of these communities needs a different strategy, has different underlying fears and fears, and needs a slightly different intervention to calm their fears.”
Nichole, a resident of Columbus, Ohio, who asked not to publish her last name to protect her privacy, felt isolated in her quest to convince her conservative Florida family to accept the vaccine. They are Puerto Rican and have always been suspicious of the US government, she told me. Many have lived as if the pandemic was over. Despite a Covid-19 scare in the family that led to Nichole’s grandmother being briefly hospitalized, most members are still adamant about refusing the vaccine and remain skeptical.
“I was shocked to hear my dad say the vaccine could make us sick or kill us,” Nichole said. “My parents are ordinary working people who are focused on their work and make sure they are financially sound. My dad isn’t really into politics and rarely watches the news, so it’s possible he just listened to the propaganda that the rest of the family is feeding him. “
Nichole regularly talks on the phone with her truck driver father, but fears their weekly calls will only reinforce his refusal. “He doesn’t want my stepmother taking it either, and he refuses to listen to reason,” she said.
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Well-known political figures, including President Joe Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci, then Vice President Mike Pence, and former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, have broadcast their inoculations to encourage confidence in the process. However, experts are skeptical that celebrities and influential people can significantly influence public opinion about the vaccine, Stat News reported. Pop culture is more fragmented and little-loved influencers have an almost universal appeal.
Research has shown that Americans are more likely to trust information from sources they are familiar with – friends, family, and fellow community members. Still, Nichole admits that her father lives in a social echo chamber. And while individuals like her feel they have a duty to inform their loved ones, there is some evidence that their efforts alone are unlikely to change their minds if they embark on this task alone.
“I’m the black sheep when it comes to my politics,” said Angela, a Los Angeles woman who asked her family name not to be published out of concern for the privacy of her family. “It’s hard to be on a page so left of them, but I still try to check them daily. I ask them every day if they feel good. “
Angela’s oldest parents and younger sister live across the country, on Staten Island. While she was flying home for the holidays, the family didn’t start a conversation about politics over Christmas, so the discussion about the vaccine was filed for later. All three members of her family are eligible for their first dose, but Angela said they were “very loud saying no.”
“When I tried to talk about the vaccine in person, the topic changed quickly and my parents said they would rather not get started,” Angela said. “When we talk about it by phone, I try to explain how in a light-hearted way [what they’ve heard about the vaccine] is simply not true, and that we were always vaccinated for everything. … But that’s been some sort of battle for the past four years, aside from pandemic. “
While the Trump administration tried to take credit for rapid vaccine production (then White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany even called it the “Trump vaccine”), some Trumpworld allies have made misleading claims about how will be distributed. The former president has also remained a mother to promote it. And this vagueness only feeds the skepticism and conspiratorial thinking of its base, which shares the suspicion of authorities and the great government.
Where individual efforts can fail, local and state health officials may need to step in to combat misinformation and build trust. In Camden, New Jersey, a town whose inhabitants are predominantly black and Hispanic, the health department has embarked on a town-wide sweeping effort to persuade people to take the vaccine.
“We know it’s better to interact with communities when you’re there with them,” Paschal Nwako, Camden County health director, told Vox’s Fabiola Cineas. “Going from door to door means that we are in the middle of the community and that we are talking to them, out there on the street, in front of their houses. And then we stay with them. ”
Nichole hopes that some family members will change their minds over time. “Maybe the threat of not seeing them face to face can get the ball rolling,” she said. “Unless a great effort is made to combat this misinformation from politicians and grassroots organizations, I don’t think people’s opinions will change. We can’t just leave it to celebrities. We need more people in the community to explain to those who are skeptical and have questions. “