The COVID 19 vaccine : fear it not!

Abstract

As a paediatrician I see children and speak to parents, who frequently recount how the pandemic has adversely affected their lives and livelihood, with many describing 鈥榟ard times鈥� in relation to their family, job, travel, income, disposable wealth, etc., etc. Invariably, the question 鈥淗ow will it all end?鈥� crops up and directs the discussion toward vaccination. Despite having just described the 鈥榟it鈥� that they have sustained, medically or economically or both, and even before any discussion on the rationale and benefits of a vaccine, I am repeatedly surprised by many parents鈥� immediate comment that 鈥淭hey fear and will not take the vaccine鈥� and, equally concerning, that they 鈥�. . . will be reluctant to give the vaccine to their child鈥�. This position is by no means exceptional, and stems from an inherent fear of something new that is relatively untried, and is compounded by misunderstanding from or confusion within the general and social media (less so in the regulated and mainstream channels), as well as unsubstantiated claims from anti-vaxxers.