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PEOPLE WHO ARE less likely to follow news coverage about Covid-19 are more likely to be vaccine hesitant, a study suggests.
A study by the Economic and Social Research Institute’s (ESRI) Behavioural Research Unit found a link between a reluctance to take the vaccine and a lack of knowledge and awareness of its benefits.
The Department of Health-funded study conducted a knowledge test and survey of attitudes among a nationally representative scale sample of the Irish population in January 2021.
It found that the less people followed news coverage about Covid-19, the less likely they were to want to take the vaccine.
Dr Deirdre Robertson, lead researcher on the study, said: “These results suggest that some people who are unsure about taking the Covid-19 vaccine may not know enough about it.
“The results suggest that providing factual information about how the vaccine was developed and tested, and the real-world effectiveness of the vaccines at preventing illness, may bridge this gap in knowledge.”
Participants in the study completed a series of tasks designed to find out what they think about the vaccine, how much they know about it, what they see as the greatest risks and benefits, and whether they plan to take it.
A multiple-choice quiz asked them questions on what they knew about the effectiveness of the jab, the development process, possible side effects and cost.
The minority of participants planning not to take the vaccine, or who were unsure, scored substantially more poorly on the quiz than the majority planning to take it.
Those planning to take the vaccine got an average score of 67%, compared with 50% for those who were unsure and just 37% for those planning not to take it.
Participants were also asked to list their thoughts about the risks and benefits of the vaccine.
Most people listed at least one risk, but there was a big difference in the listing of benefits.
Only 5% of those planning not to take the vaccine and around 50% of those who were unsure listed any benefit at all.
This compared with 91% of people planning to take it.
Professor Pete Lunn, head of the Behavioural Research Unit, said: “Since we collected this data, the numbers wanting to take the vaccine have risen steadily, perhaps reflecting improved knowledge and recognition of the benefits that the vaccine brings.
“But the study shows that a minority of the population do not follow the news about Covid-19 and may take longer to realise how effective and safe the vaccines are.”
The working paper, A Lack of Perceived Benefits and a Gap in Knowledge Distinguish the Vaccine Hesitant from Vaccine Accepting during the Covid-19 Pandemic, can be read here.
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While I intend to receive a vaccine I don’t see it as unusual to have concerns about getting one.
@Sean Higgins: Same here I’ll get the vaccine when offered. I think it would be highly unusual for anyone not to have concerns about it. It’s a rushed vaccine.
@Roy Dowling: Except it’s not, though. Read about its development.
@Roy Dowling: no it isn’t. Here are some reasons why.
@Roy Dowling: while I don’t agree with the rushed vaccine, but you seem like a rational person who has weighed then benefits and risks and made your decision. Absolutely fair and logical position.
The article is saying that plenty of people haven’t got the most basic information that is need to make an informed decision. At this point there is no excuse for not having the information. Personal responsibility is a huge factor
@JusticeForJoe: It is when full side effects will not be known for at least another two years. I’d be more concerned about people who didn’t research it properly.
@Roy Dowling: It’s NOT rushed! Take the Polio vaccine. 8 years in development (I think). But modern technology means samples can be analysed 100 times faster now than then. Each 1ml sample then had to be drawn up into a pipette by an individual technician. Computer controlled processing now can draw up 100+ individual samples at a time and analyse them faster! The COVID vaccines are NOT rushed. Technology just works faster.
@Roy Dowling: rushed? They have been working on Corona viruses for years.. and rMRA technology has been used in medicines before.
Can The Journal remind us how the swine flu vaccine went? This is a brand new vaccine. Of course people are going to be hesitant. Its still in the trial phase til 2023, long term effects are not known with no liability for the manufacturers.
Now children are been targeted, a virus that has little or no effect on em? Madness when the vast amount of deaths have come from care homes with the average age around 82 of people dying with covid.
@James Quinn: “targeted” ffs. Found one
@James Quinn: What are the long term effects of children and/or adults who catch the virus?
@Alan Leahy: they always ignore this question.
@James Quinn: nope it’s not. It’s standard procedure to monitor a vaccine. Thanks for proving a point. . https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-vaccine-monitoring-idUSKBN2AC2G3
@Alan Leahy: The vast majority make a full recovery.
@Effrafax of Wug: Il wait until the trial is over and then make a decision. Thanks.
@James Quinn: what trial?
@James Quinn: another know nothing expert, who has gleaned information from uncle Ted on Facebook
@James Quinn: how do you know that though? You don’t know what they could end up with complications further down the line.
@Sam Harms: If you take that route the same could be said of the vaccine.
@Alan Leahy: cardiomyopathy in young men is a side effect becoming increasingly more common and will affect them for life.
@Franny Ando: it could but I know that I would rather take a vaccine that could potentially have side effects down the line, but will save lives and let life get somewhat back to normal and actually be able to live my life, rather than constantly going into lockdown and having thousands of people dying.
@Alan Leahy: Nobody Knows.
@James Quinn: If you believe that what does not kill you makes you stronger then the virus isn’t that virulent for younger people.
However, at least 2% of the UK population are suffering from Long Covid, leaving them with massively depleted energy levels, aches all over their bodies, headaches, breathing difficulties and a plethora of other symptoms.
The real figure could be even higher and nobody knows how long these symptoms will last or if there’s any cure.
@Sam Harms: Thats your right. As it is for those who don’t want, or are worried, about this vaccine and its possible side effects. It’s up to everyone to make an informed decision on what best for them.
I don’t think this is an accurate description of hesitancy,many are hesitant because of health issues they have.
They have also seen vax effects on line from other people that had issues or in there community.
Not every one is content with the benefit outweighs the risk medical reply.
Even though in most cases they will probably still get it,but some people are nervous and generally concerned it may activate issues they have.
They are not anti vaccine or anti anything like it .
@Ann Morris Doolan: 100% but be prepared to be lambasted for such a level headed sensible response.
@Ann Morris Doolan: I think there are two different cohorts, those who have concerns of a potentially damaging side effect due to an existing underlying health condition and those that are just anti-vax because they believe it’s all a hoax, believe that vaccines in general are bad for your health, believe that it’s all a big pharma conspiracy to make money or they have simply been swayed by the Gemmas and Aislings of this world who spout the crazy stuff. Leave them to it.
Thankfully we have a very highly educated society in Ireland with one of the highest uptakes in Europe. There will always be outliers in society. Hopefully for us they will fall within the low risk category and are not too plentiful. The fall in hospital numbers (serious illness) and death are testimony to the efficacy of the vaccine program.
@Alan Leahy: i’d argue Irelands higher uptake on the vaccine is due to feeling there’s no alternative option. After been subjected to lockdown after lockdown regardless on how ‘low’ our hospital numbers have been, as we experienced last summer. A Survey on how many people are taking the vaccine due to fear of the virus as opposed to just desperate to get back to ‘normal’ would be interesting.
@John Egan: That’s a nice comfort blanket you’ve made there!
So the vast majority of anti vaxxers are thick. I could’ve told you that tbf.
@Max Bailey: I don’t see anything here to do with anti-vaxxers. The issue is vaccine hesitancy, whiz is completely valid in some people’s circumstances.
Also, calling people ‘thick’ isn’t really going to do anything to win them over.
Oh, and sadly, I feel the need to state that I’m already fully vaxxed before the usual suspects with no idea of what nuance is jump in to call me anti-vaxx.
@JedBartlett: I’m not trying to win anyone over. Those type of people are beyond help. Because they are thick.
@JedBartlett: You know what they say, the only person worse than an anti-vaxxer is an anti anti-vaxxer.
@Max Bailey: I resent the fact that because a person elects to not have an injection labelled as a vaccine (which it clearly and reported is not) are now not only “anti vaxers” but are now “thick” – I still believe we live in a democracy, still (but only just) have freedom of speech, mind and will, and resent that someone is “think” because they have choose to not have this jab!! Perhaps the “thick” people are the ones that might have done a bit more research and made a decision that they don’t want to join the new global “control” order
@Max Bailey: It seems the word ‘thick’ can be applied more broadly in that case.
@Max Bailey: I resent the fact that because a person elects to not have an injection labelled as a vaccine (which it clearly and reported is not) are now not only “anti vaxers” but are now “thick” – I still believe we live in a democracy, still (but only just) have freedom of speech, mind and will, and resent that someone is “think” because they have choose to not have this jab!! Perhaps the “thick” people are the ones that might have done a bit more research and made a decision that they don’t want to join the new global “control” order
@Sue McMillan: if that’s the conclusion they came to “not wanting to join the new global control order” then I think it would be justified to label them as thick. But there are those who are vaccine hesitant because of genuine fears about a potential side-effect causing complications due to an underlying condition, for example. I wouldn’t call these people anti-vaxers, chances are they’ve had some kind of vaccine previously. The anti-vaxers are the conspiracy theorists who believe that this is a global control order, a big pharma play, those that perhaps haven’t read enough on the cure versus disease debate and consequences of not having a vaccinated population. This is the cohort to be concerned about.
@Sue McMillan: Your freedom of speech ends when it is a public health menace that endagers others in society.
@Sue McMillan: If that it what you believe, then the ‘thick’ label is entirely justified.
@Sue McMillan: Why isn’t it a vaccine? Where has this interesting fact clearly been reported?
@Sue McMillan: the global control order?!? Hahaha! Thank you for proving my point.
No way… you’re telling me that people who didn’t subject themselves to the constant barrage of Covid fear porn and scaremongering were less likely to take the vaccine?
@whitewater: you mean the paranoid people who saw their Facebook groups as a more credible source of information than their own GP? Yes.
@Effrafax of Wug: Do you think less fear means paranoia? You should just keep doing what your told I suppose.
@Eamonn Martin: what he’s describing is a reluctance to read reliable sources. Only the paranoid would see these as “scare mongering” and “fear porn”. Instead he’s “doing what he’s told” by his Facebook groups and Bitchute videos and ignoring good science. That’s just really bad group think in badly informed echo Chambers that leads to irrational and dysfunctional decision making. He’s just “doing what he’s told” instead of listening to the experts. Your confusing the two.
@Effrafax of Wug: Doubt it, looks like he’s explaining human nature here.
People at higher risk or afraid are bound to take a vaccine quicker. No big conspiracy with that statement.
You tried to turn it around to discredit someone.
@Eamonn Martin: The only people fear-mongering are the people who say if you get the vaccine you could become sterile, magnetic, and all sorts of bogus ailments.
@Eamonn Martin: he didn’t mentioned anything about people at higher risk taking it sooner, he just accused everyone else of scaremongering. People who are hesitant about taking a vaccine because of their own health issues and those that think its all part of a big conspiracy are two different cohorts. I believe he’s belongs to the latter.
@Rebecca BarrettNp: Really? Isag: look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety and uncertainty.
I would most certainly consider this fear mongering.
@whitewater: people who find reality insufficiently compelling are less likely to make choices rooted in it.
New headline; uninformed = unvaccinated.
We are 16 months into this and if people are claiming a lack of knowledge would see this as wilful ignorance
@Colm OS: or just thick
A lot of people are going to have questions and maybe hesitant in getting this vaccine, but for many they probably feel there is no choice in the matter, as we have been told things like travel or a return of large gatherings and events will not be allowed without a vaccine. You don’t need to be an anti vaxxer to ask some basic questions, remember last year when the talk of a digital green cert being needed for travel was put down as conspiracy talk…
I don’t know what a tracker mortgage is..??
@Eddie Michael: Neither did the majority of banks!!
I’m after my first dose. I’m picking up 2fm, not great reception but hoping the next jab in a few weeks will fix it.
@Dave Barrett: I’m still just gettin’ East Coast Radio. All I’ve heard since last Wednesday is Dermot Kennedy
Only reason I’m considering the vaccine is to go travelling. They have us over a barrel
@: PCR test. If you truly don’t want to take the vaccine, get a PCR test. If you’re opposed to the vaccine that much and have genuine concerns you wouldn’t dismiss it for a holiday? Surely not?
Anti vaxxers, the thickest of the thick. You didn’t need a study to find that out. All you needed to do was follow around the nut jobs gathering around Dublin with Irish Republic flags and listen to what they say from their megaphones. Misinformed is an incredible understatement.
@Paul Cunningham: Once more for those whose basic reading comprehension isn’t great, this isn’t about anti-vaxxers. This is about vaccine hesitancy. They aren’t the same thing.
@Paul Cunningham: good lord there is a lot to unpack in this comment and bar the rant about lads with flags in Dublin, this seems like someone who thinks anyone who questions or has concerns about a vaccine is somehow a Gemma supporter or whatever conspiracy nut you believe is making people not wanna take these vaccines….
Most anti-vaxxers are really just afraid of needles
@JusticeForJoe: I must be an anti-vaxxer so. I have a fear of other people sticking needles in me.
@Roy Dowling: If you’re clever enough, you’ll realise the benefits outweigh the torture of the needle jab
@JusticeForJoe: I don’t think anyone who has concerns over taking a vaccine due to ignorance or otherwise can be called an anti vaxer. I myself was very hesitant for quite a while due to my own health concerns. Doesn’t mean I’m anti vax.
@cars: I fully agree with ya, when those concerns are genuine and backed up by your doctor. A lot of people refuse to ever get any vaccine though. Something about their “immune system” being “enough”
@JusticeForJoe: I’ll be getting the jab. Doesnt mean I’m looking forward to it though.
@Roy Dowling: I hear ya. I’m expecting the second Pfizer to knock me sideways in a few weeks. But I’m looking forward to life thereafter :)
@JusticeForJoe: why do you expect it to knock you sideways? I’ve had both and no issues, I know good few other people who have had it and no issues.
@Niamh Brady: That’s good to hear and I hope I’m as lucky. I just know a few people who had side-effects for a few days. My old pair both got away scot-free too tho, so here’s hoping. Won’t be complaining either way tho
Literally had the J&J 3 minutes ago , still breathing……
Maybe if UCD could help debunk all the dangerous misinformation Dolores Cahill spews would be a big help, I know they are paying her a salary so she can focus fulltime on this, but would be nice if UCD stepped in and sorted out the mess she is making
@Ally Mc Culladgh: how can they justify continuing to employ her?
Got both my Pfizer vaccines, no side effects whatsoever.
Waiting for the mind control nano bots to get to my brain!..
I’m not surprised especially those of us who were given AZ or go to the back of the queue with all the messing and changes that went with it i don’t think I’ll bother if I’m offered another AZ vaccine fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me I’ll happily go to the back of the Q for 2nd jab
have your say