Misunderstanding Vaccine Side Effects Poses a Problem for Uptake

When deciding whether to get vaccines in general, Americans are highly concerned about side effects. Indeed, this concern is one of the most common reasons people report for delaying or refusing vaccination. Even minor side effects, such as swelling and pain at injection sites, often deter people from vaccination.

This is especially true of parents, who are loath to inflict pain on their children. For the COVID-19 vaccine in particular, fear of side effects is, according to a poll in September 2020, the most common reported reason for potential refusal.

This article points out that looking at this issue from the lens of behavioral science will aid in understanding how to tackle the problem.

Last modified: January 27, 2021

Language: English