Among Vaccine Enthusiasm, Skepticism Remains for Many
Diane Sindermann of Northbrook receives a flu shot in the parking lot of a Jewel-Osco in Highland Park in September. Mass immunization sites like this are being planned for the COVID-19 vaccine, though many remain skeptical of the new vaccine. (SOURCE: Chicago Tribune)
Throughout international, national, and state media, there’s an obsession over the pending rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine. Supplies, timing, and distribution pepper news conferences like those held by Governor JB Pritzker each day. But, throughout the state, there is a potentially large group of people who are skeptical or downright resistant to taking the vaccine.
There has long been a small group of loud vaccination deniers, often referred to as “anti-vaxxers” who often permeate dark corners of social media. But with a rushed vaccine for the novel COVID-19 virus, it has left some supporters of flu shots and measles vaccines reassessing their plans.
The Illinoize spoke to a handful of people from around the state who say they are either skeptical of receiving the vaccine or don’t plan to get immunized. Their ages range from their 20’s to retired and their political views appear to be across the spectrum.
We promised those who responded to us that our conversations were on background and none of their identifying information would be used in our story. We also don’t intend this anecdotal testimony to serve as any sort of scientific reasoning for or against vaccination for COVID-19.
Specifically, many of the responses we received involved concern about the potential impact of the vaccine on children. Considering none of the vaccines are currently seeking approval for people under 18, we are not including those responses in this story.
Though one person we spoke to, a nurse in her late 20’s from Chicago, said the potential of impact on her fertility was reason enough to pass.
“I don’t know the affects it could potentially have on fertility issues,” she said.
Another mother of young children from the Chicago suburbs says there are enough unknowns with limited trials to leave her on the fence.
“I think COVID is absolutely real and we should wear masks. But, to my understanding, it's not a typical flu vaccine,” she said. I am not sure what the side effects will be years from now. I'm just really on the fence.”
The mom says she’s heard from people who won’t get the vaccine because “they think this is all fake and that there is "something" in the vaccine” or a concern about potential side effects.
A financial advisor from western Illinois says he won’t take receive the vaccine, at least in the short term, because he already had COVID-19.
A retired public employee from central Illinois says her husband has had negative reactions to other vaccines and will likely need specific guidance from a doctor. But, she says, the unknown side effects are keeping her away.
“I'm just worried about the unknowns,” she said. What if a few years down the road we have a medical condition due to this vaccine?”
Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike says there is skepticism of the vaccine in many places, specifically in communities of color.
"There's a lot of work to be done there and there's some very valid reasons why that skepticism exists,” Ezike says. “Public health is not always done right in communities of color. There are many examples where government has done wrong, by black people specifically.”
Ezike says she plans to work with the Urban League, churches across the state, and other groups that can help get into communities of color, like Black and Latino.
But Ezike assured the public Thursday she believes the vaccine is, and will be, safe.
“I know that there is concern about the COVID vaccine. I want people to know that I will be getting the vaccine when it’s my turn and when it’s available and after approval by the FDA and recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices,” she said. “I do trust in vaccines. I trust in the development and approval system that has been created in this country, and from what is known, the safety and efficacy of the vaccine has been evaluated appropriately.”
She says her opinion, as a physician, is to get vaccinated unless you have a medical condition that prevents it.
Governor JB Pritzker says anti-vaccine advocates are attempting to discredit the science behind the vaccine.
"They put out lots of misinformation, some of them are in the same community of people who put out misinformation like [a Chicago talk radio host] and others who purvey the kind of falsehoods around the Coronavirus,” Pritzker said.
Ezike encourages the public to do their homework on the vaccine, and not to rely on social media.
“I encourage people to learn for themselves from medical research experts about the vaccine and be able to discern the myths from truths,” she said. “There is a lot of misinformation, so please obtain credible medical research expert information as opposed to just social media myths that are going around.”
But Ezike says she understands the public won’t have 100% buy-in.
“We can’t assume that every single person will want the vaccine, for any number of reasons,” she said. “But we have the expectation that we will be able to have accurate information available to everyone to make the best decision possible.”
Ezike predicts while there will be some initial reluctance to the vaccine, eventually, most people will come around.
“Over time, more and more people will say ‘oh, I think I want it now.’ I think there’s some people who may not want to be the first, but I think with time, you’ll have more and more uptake,” she said. “So we have to have people get to it in their time.”