THE COVID VACCINE: WHAT’S THE DEAL?

Why are people either for or against having it?

Sam Kavakli, Joe Grinstead Design: George Walker Photography: Amber Pisani-Cleland

When the Covid-19 form of coronavirus appeared at the end of 2019, it spiralled out of control; death rates all around the world soared. Everyone, professional or otherwise, knew that something had to be done, and fast.

By the end of 2020, AstraZeneca and Pfizer were among many pharmaceutical companies that were nearing the end of the race to create a vaccine. By November 2020, both companies had held clinical trials, and gathered enough data to know that the effectiveness of their vaccines were 70% and 95% respectively at preventing serious illness. In December 2020, both versions of the vaccines were approved, and the vaccine roll out began. By May 2021, the UK reached a milestone of having delivered over 60 million doses.

So far in 2022, the outcome of the vaccination programme including a booster is very positive. With the vaccines remaining effective and ultimately preventing deaths, the UK and other European countries are now under pressure to come together to ensure that vaccines are also provided to poorer countries.

Why is there a divided opinion about the vaccine?

Most people have been willing and thankful to be able to have the covid vaccine and ensure they help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. However, despite professionals advising everyone to have the vaccine, there are a large number of people who are against it and even go as far as to publicly protest against it.

There are many reasons for vaccine hesitancy: the initial side effects of the vaccine itself, the blood clotting concerns surrounding AstraZeneca, the constant barrage of facts and myths that consume the internet, the belief that our immune systems should be left to fight the virus itself and simply the fact that the vaccines weren’t trialled and tested for as long a period as they would usually be.

Arguments for the vaccine

To get a professional opinion about the vaccine, we asked an expert from the NHS for their views so that we could offer some factual information to our readers.

Tag first asked if the vaccine was safe. We were told that although the vaccines hadn’t been through the usual thorough testing process that most vaccines would have, they are still our safest option. Everyone who gets vaccinated helps keep the hospital numbers down and the people who are fully vaccinated have most definitely made the rates in hospitals go down.

They also believe that a lot of the negative opinions around the vaccine have been down to the internet and as well as a more openly opinionated society. Those that chose not to get vaccinated and went on to develop Covid-19, suffered a lot more and many ended up in intensive care.

Arguments against the vaccine

Tag also got the chance to speak to someone who is against the Covid vaccine, however, they have chosen to remain anonymous.

It was quite clear that they believed the vaccine to be experimental and unsafe, and they claimed that companies were profiteering. They advise people who are thinking about taking the vaccine to simply change their lifestyle instead, protecting yourself and your immune system. They openly admitted to the internet refining and fueling their suspicions about Covid vaccination.

When we asked if they had received any other vaccines, they said no, but they remained adamant that they weren’t antivax, they just believed it was unnecessary. They said “The Covid ‘vaccine’ is not a vaccine. I call it a shot because it does not behave like a vaccine. Also, it will not solve our problems. The only thing that can solve it is natural herd immunity.”

Finally, Tag spoke to East Sussex’s Youth Healthwatch team who have been distributing Covid vaccinations.

Staff member Ed Peasgood (18) has been reviewing a study into attitudes to the vaccine: “Lots of young people (68%) went through their family and parents to find out information, and get advice, on vaccinations. This highlights the need for a whole-family approach where communications professionals and services connect with and engage the whole family in their health. My advice to young people who may be scared about the COVID vaccination would be to use the research and information services online to support you to make an informed decision.”

“Everyone who gets vaccinated helps keep the hospital numbers down”

To conclude

According to the website covid19.who.int, as of the end of March 2022, there have been over 480 million cases worldwide and over six million deaths. However, over 10 billion doses of the vaccine have been given.

We live in a democracy which means that we are all entitled to make our own choices. However, if the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that it is not simply about protecting ourselves, it’s about protecting our loved ones and those around us.