Robbinsville – A survey conducted by the Graham County Health Department sheds some light as to why people resist getting vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
After a spike in new COVID-19 cases – following the Christmas break – cases have followed a national trend of decline, County Health Director Beth Booth told the Graham County Board of Commissioners, meeting as the Board of Public Health and the Public Health Advisory Board on Feb. 7.
According to health department statistics, 51 percent of Graham County residents have received at least one dose of vaccine and 46 percent are fully vaccinated. As of Feb. 14, 2,199 Graham County residents have tested positive for the virus throughout the pandemic and 30 Graham County residents have died of COVID-19-related causes.
The statistics do not show how many additional people had COVID-19, but were never tested.
The survey included a disproportionate number of people who were vaccinated – nearly 70 percent – but recorded comments from the remainder who have refused to get vaccinated.
“Personal fear, family members had a bad reaction, not trusting, just chose not to – it’s a mixed bag,” Booth said.
To the question – “With more guidance and information, would you be interested in getting vaccinated?” – just over 64 percent answered no.
Feedback
Here are comments from respondents who answered that they would not change their mind about the vaccine:
* Don’t trust it;
* I have had COVID and it was a very mild case, nothing more than a cold. I have no pre-existing conditions. I am not overweight. I take Vitamins and try to be active as much as possible. If vaccinated individuals can still get COVID and spread it I would not be doing anything to help the public;
* There’s a 99.8 percent survival rate; no long term studies of the (side) effects; it don’t work, still get COVID after taking the shot;
* We don’t leave the house. (Name deleted) is unable to go anywhere and I had a stroke;
* 1. Hasn’t been out long enough. 2. It isn’t working. 3. We do not know the long term side effects of it;
* I’ve heard too much negativity against it;
* Not enough research has been done on mRNA vaccines. Everyone taking the shots are in the phase 3 of the clinical trials;
* 1. I already had it ( as did my family), and 2. COVID-19 is not a great danger to me or my family according to the data, and 3. I have some concerns about the long term effects of an experimental drug;
* My Mom had a bad reaction;
* I would rather take a vaccine that has had more testing and research. Something that has been put out in such a short amount of time, and that has had many dangerous side effects, is not something I want to jump the gun on;
* Have trouble with flu vaccine;
* Not enough true information being put out to the public. No information packet sheet to read ingredients and warnings that should be provided with every medication given to the public;
* I don’t trust it and I don’t see the point when vaccinated people are getting sick and still passing it on to others;
* Have Crohn’s and Grave’s Disease and am unsure where my body would even produce antibodies. I am also concerned about how quickly the vaccine was produced and the long term effects. I have already used several biologics for my Crohn’s that after terrible side effects;
* I contracted COVID before any vaccines were available. Also, I worry about long-term effects of a novel “vaccine.” Additionally, I (nor anyone in my immediate family) are in a high risk category. It seems that given all of those factors, the most prudent choice for me and my family is to wait until more insight can be had. That being said, we’re NOT “anti-vaccine” people.
Several respondents claimed that the vaccines are not FDA approved (they are), that it is not a vaccine but a form of gene therapy, or that there is no information available about the vaccines.
The Graham County Health Department’s website has fact sheets for all three vaccines that are FDA-approved: Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer.
The fact sheets and other resources can be found at health.grahamcounty.org.