When the Pfizer vaccine was first being administered, the most prominent concerns were: “Is it safe or reliable after such a rushed development? Will there be any long-term side effects? Should people be worried?”
One atrocity that comes to mind is the 1960 Thalidomide incident in which a morning sickness medication for pregnant women resulted in the birth of children with missing or shortened limbs (i.e. phocomelia). Could Covid vaccines experience the same outcome?
This distrust even extends to ethnic communities. According to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) survey in November 2020, only 14% of black individuals trusted the newly developed vaccines and only 18% confirmed that they would get vaccinated. To understand these underwhelming statistics, one has to reflect on what has happened in the past. The Tuskegee Syphilis Study, for example, reminds Black Americans of the unjust healthcare system working against their best interest. Although some might not recall this historic tragedy, Black Americans, such as Dr. Susan Moore, continue to face everyday racism, in hospital settings amidst this pandemic.
The Fear Of The Vaccine
Image Source: Malte Mueller
Thankfully, transparency has increased between the public and healthcare providers/agencies with constant updates scattered throughout social media. Vaccine development undergoes a three-phase process outlined monitored with Mortality Weekly Reports that update the public on disease progression under strict FDA guidelines. Phase 1 entails small groups of individuals providing signed consent in order for Phase 2 and 3 to then administer these vaccines to certain groups of individuals to ensure drug safety. The FDA then documents common side effects experienced by patients on their website and provide extensive reports to major news channels such as CNN or MSNBC. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has even debunked common vaccine misconceptions with popular YouTubers and Late Night talk show hosts like The Try Guys and Jimmy Kimmel. Through these social media platforms, Dr. Fauci is creating an open dialogue with different age groups and emphasizes the achievements of racially diverse lead scientists such as Kizzmekia Corbett. By sharing the contributions of diverse physicians/scientists/leaders, patients belonging to separate ethnic communities can more easily relate and trust the information being conveyed. For those that are skeptical of Dr. Fauci, his background includes over 30 years of research alongside 7 presidential terms in which he has provided expertise on HIV/AIDs as well as other global health crises.
As of April 30th, 2021, around 240 million vaccine doses have been administered in the US with only 30.3% of the population being fully vaccinated. Nearing the summer, there is hope that these numbers will continue to increase and vocalize the most important message: trust these vaccines.
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