scholarly journals How Did a Change in Regulatory Guidance regarding the AstraZeneca Vaccine impact Vaccine Hesitancy? A Repeated Cross-Section Event Study from the UK

Author(s):  
David A. Comerford

Abstract On April 7th 2021 the UK regulator recommended against delivering the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine (AZ vaccine) to those under-30 if an alternative vaccine could be offered instead. The news followed deaths arising from blood clots and a suspension of use of the AZ vaccine by various other countries. The story became headline news and online search querying vaccine safety increased. What happened to Covid-19 vaccine intentions and attitudes? I collected relevant data the day after the story hit the front page. I asked UK adults if they intended to get the vaccine and measured their attitudes towards it (after revision period: n = 502). I compare these data against two previous waves that used precisely the same methods of data collection (see Comerford et al., 2021). The first was taken before stories linking the AZ vaccine to bloodclots had been reported (baseline period: March 12th -15th ; n = 241). The second was taken after the AZ bloodclot story led EU countries to suspend use of the vaccine but before UK regulator changed guidance (before revision period: March 17th ; n = 305). The data show no change in intentions or attitudes in the sample as a whole, nor in the subgroups who we would expect to be most affected by the UK regulators’ guidance (under-30s and those aged 30–40).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Comerford ◽  
Olivia Olivarius ◽  
David Bell ◽  
Alison Dawson ◽  
Tamara Brown ◽  
...  

Abstract Vaccine hesitancy is influenced by perceived risk and benefits. On March 15th 2021 various countries suspended use of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 following deaths arising from blood clots. The story became headline news and online search querying vaccine safety increased. What happened to Covid-19 vaccine intentions? We were collecting relevant data at the time. Our survey asked UK adults if they intended to get the vaccine and measured their attitudes towards it. Data collection from respondents before coverage of the story reached its peak (March 12th-15th; n = 241) was compared with responses after the peak (March 17th; n = 305). Our data show no reductions in intentions or attitudes. Our study is uniquely positioned to analyse real-world responses and indicates that media coverage of this story did not reduce intention to take up the vaccine in the UK.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Comerford ◽  
Olivia Olivarius ◽  
David Bell ◽  
Alison Dawson ◽  
Tamara Brown ◽  
...  

Abstract Vaccine hesitancy is influenced by perceived risk and benefits. On March 15th 2021 various countries suspended use of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 following deaths arising from blood clots. The story became headline news and online search querying vaccine safety increased. What happened to Covid-19 vaccine intentions? We were collecting relevant data at the time. Our survey asked UK adults if they intended to get the vaccine and measured their attitudes towards it. Data collection from respondents before coverage of the story reached its peak (March 12th-15th; n = 241) was compared with responses after the peak (March 17th; n = 305). Our data show no reductions in intentions or attitudes. Our study is uniquely positioned to analyse real-world responses and indicates that media coverage of this story did not reduce intention to take up the vaccine in the UK.


1971 ◽  
Vol 25 (02) ◽  
pp. 354-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Gottlob ◽  
L Stockinger ◽  
U Pötting ◽  
G Schattenmann

SummaryIn vitro whole blood clots of various ages, experimental thrombi produced in the jugular vein of rabbits and human thrombi from arteries and veins were examined in semi-thin sections and by means of electron microscopy.In all types of clots examined a typical course of retraction was found. Retraction starts with a dense excentrical focus which grows into a densification ring. After 24 hours the entire clot becomes almost homogeneously dense; later a secondary swelling sets in.Shortly after coagulation the erythrocytes on the rim of the clot are bi-concave discs. They then assume the shape of crenate spheres, turn into smooth spheres and finally become indented ghosts which have lost the largest part of their contents. In the inner zone, which makes up the bulk of the clot, we observed bi-concave discs prior to retraction. After retraction we see no crenations but irregularly shaped erythrocytes. Once the secondary swelling sets in, the cross-section becomes polygonal and later spherical. After extensive hemolysis we observe the “retiform thrombus” made up of ghosts.Experimental and clinical thrombi present the same morphology but are differentiated from in vitro clots by: earlier hemolysis, immigration of leukocytes, formation of a rim layer consisting of fibrin and thrombocytes, and the symptoms of organization. Such symptoms of organization which definitely will prevent lysis with streptokinase were found relatively late in experimental and clinical thrombi. Capillary buds and capillary loops were never found in clinical thrombi prior to the third month.The morphological findings agree with earlier physical and enzymatic investigations. The observation that phenomena of reorganization occur relatively late and frequently only in the rim areas of large thrombi explains why lytic therapy is possible in some of the chronic obliterations.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 713
Author(s):  
Cheryl Lin ◽  
Jewel Mullen ◽  
Danielle Smith ◽  
Michaela Kotarba ◽  
Samantha J. Kaplan ◽  
...  

Despite vaccines’ effectiveness in reducing the rate of preventable diseases, vaccine hesitancy has threatened public health and economies worldwide. Healthcare providers’ (HCP) communications and behavior strongly influence patient receptivity and uptake. The goal of this review was to examine HCP vaccine perceptions, knowledge, and reservations and how these attitudes affect their recommendations and vaccination practices. Primary research studies published by 16 September 2020 were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. A 14-item scale was developed for survey study and risk of bias appraisal (SSRBA). In total, 96 papers from 34 countries were included, covering 17 vaccines (HPV and influenza vaccines the most studied). Recommendation was positively associated with provider knowledge and experience, beliefs about disease risk, and perceptions of vaccine safety, necessity, and efficacy. HCP vaccination attitudes and practices varied across specialties, vaccines, and countries; demographic impact was inconclusive. Barriers included anticipation of patient/parental concerns or refusal, lacking clear guidelines, time constraints, and cost. For HPV, vaccines were more often recommended to older, female adolescents and by physicians who discussed sexual health. HCPs are vital advocates for patients and the public, but studies indicated a prevalence of provider hesitancy pertaining to inadequate knowledge, low vaccine confidence, and suboptimal uptake themselves. Improving HCP knowledge and assuring their access to information they deem trustworthy are essential to supporting HCPs‘ role as “trusted messengers” to promote vaccine acceptance.


Author(s):  
Seth C Kalichman ◽  
Lisa A Eaton ◽  
Valerie A Earnshaw ◽  
Natalie Brousseau

Abstract Background The unprecedented rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines has faced SARS-CoV- (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy, which is partially fueled by the misinformation and conspiracy theories propagated by anti-vaccine groups on social media. Research is needed to better understand the early COVID-19 anti-vaccine activities on social media. Methods This study chronicles the social media posts concerning COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines by leading anti-vaccine groups (Dr Tenpenny on Vaccines, the National Vaccine Information Center [NVIC] the Vaccination Information Network [VINE]) and Vaccine Machine in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (February–May 2020). Results Analysis of 2060 Facebook posts showed that anti-vaccine groups were discussing COVID-19 in the first week of February 2020 and were specifically discussing COVID-19 vaccines by mid-February 2020. COVID-19 posts by NVIC were more widely disseminated and showed greater influence than non-COVID-19 posts. Early COVID-19 posts concerned mistrust of vaccine safety and conspiracy theories. Conclusion Major anti-vaccine groups were sowing seeds of doubt on Facebook weeks before the US government launched its vaccine development program ‘Operation Warp Speed’. Early anti-vaccine misinformation campaigns outpaced public health messaging and hampered the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 704
Author(s):  
Biyun Xu ◽  
Xuelian Gao ◽  
Xinyue Zhang ◽  
Yali Hu ◽  
Huixia Yang ◽  
...  

Surveys showed that vaccine hesitancy may influence the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines in healthcare workers (HCWs) and the general population. Currently, the actual acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in HCWs has rarely been reported. In the present survey, we investigated the real-world acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in HCWs in perinatal medicine during the first three-month period of vaccination in China and to identify the main reason for the decline of vaccination. HCWs (1087) who participated in a Chinese national symposium on perinatal medicine during 16–18 April 2021 were invited to answer a 27-question questionnaire online. A total of 1051 HCWs completed the questionnaire. Of them, 86.2% (906/1051) accepted the COVID-19 vaccination and 13.8% (145/1051) declined the vaccination. Because of the vaccine hesitancy, one-fourth of the vaccinated participants did not accept the vaccination until consulted with others or requested by employers. The main reason for the decline of vaccination in 145 unvaccinated HCWs was the concern about vaccine safety. The results indicate that vaccination request by employers may promote vaccine acceptance. More convincing data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines appears to be important to increase the acceptance of vaccination.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 298
Author(s):  
Teresa Gavaruzzi ◽  
Marta Caserotti ◽  
Irene Leo ◽  
Alessandra Tasso ◽  
Leonardo Speri ◽  
...  

The role of parents’ emotional competencies on vaccine hesitancy and decision making has been seldom examined. Two studies investigated the relationship between parents’ attitudes towards childhood vaccines and self-reported behavior (Study 1) and between parents’ emotional competence and attitudes towards vaccines (Study 2). In Study 1, predictors of temporal, partial, or complete vaccine refusal (having voluntarily postponed/forgone some/all vaccines) were examined in 2778 parents. In Study 2, psychological predictors of the attitude towards vaccines were examined in 593 parents, using the Profile of Emotional Competence and the valence of mental images spontaneously associated with the term “vaccine”. In Study 1, attitudes were aggregated in three independent factors (concerns about vaccine safety; diseases prevented by vaccines; and naturalistic views) that independently predicted vaccine refusal. In Study 2, a significant mediational analysis showed a positive indirect effect of intrapersonal emotional competences on attitudes towards vaccines, through mental images associated with the word “vaccine”. Parents’ intrapersonal emotional competences affected all dimensions of attitudes towards vaccines, suggesting that being able to manage, identify, and recognize one’s own emotions is central to vaccine acceptance. These findings suggest that intervention strategies, rather than stressing the pro-social benefits of vaccinating, should focus on aspects related to one’s own emotions.


Author(s):  
Elaine Robertson ◽  
Kelly S. Reeve ◽  
Claire L. Niedzwiedz ◽  
Jamie Moore ◽  
Margaret Blake ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 282-287
Author(s):  
Alison While

Vaccine hesitancy is a concern both globally and within the UK. Alison While reviews the evidence relating to vaccine hesitancy, its underlying factors and the sociodemographic variations Vaccination is an important public health intervention, but its effectiveness depends upon the uptake of vaccination reaching sufficient levels to yield ‘herd’ immunity. While the majority of the UK hold positive attitudes about vaccination, some people, including health professionals, decline vaccinations. This article reviews the evidence relating to vaccine hesitancy, its underlying factors and the sociodemographic variations.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majdi Sabahelzain ◽  
Rik Crutzen ◽  
Mohamed Moukhyer ◽  
Hans Bosma ◽  
Bart van den Borne

BACKGROUND WHO described Vaccine hesitancy in 2019 as one of the top 10 threats to global health in high, and low, and middle-income countries. Various communication approaches have been used to engage the public about vaccines and immunization such as mass media and e-health strategies. With the expansion in the use of communication technologies in health in recent years, websites have increasingly been used to support vaccine acceptance and demand and thus increase vaccine uptake. We recently established a web-based intervention called the Tat3im initiative website in Sudan. It aims to increase uptake of vaccines in Sudan by increasing knowledge and addressing issues related to vaccine hesitancy and vaccine safety in the Arabic language OBJECTIVE This article describes the processes that we used to develop and improve this website including the creation of its content. METHODS These processes were informed by using and combining three sources including, Garrett’s user experience framework as a basis for the development, the WHO Vaccine Safety Net's (VSN) criteria for good information practices (i.e. credibility, content (quality and quantity), design and accessibility criteria), and previous relevant research that assessed the local context in Sudan. RESULTS We found that using such evidence as well as combining the VSN's criteria and previous research findings in the five planes of Garrett's framework enabled us to cover many essential elements of user experience and to address issues related to the website’s strategy and content. CONCLUSIONS As the website may be limited due to the high rates of illiteracy as well as relatively low internet use in Sudan, we suggest using social marketing to promote the use of the website as well as monitoring and evaluating the website and users’ experience using different approaches such as visitor traffic and qualitative measures.


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