Almost half of the Dutch, 48 percent, do not want to be vaccinated immediately when a vaccine becomes available. They want to wait and see, according to research by TU Delft and RIVM, among others. There is a lot of hesitation among care workers, young people and vulnerable groups, among others.
39 percent of the Dutch do want to be vaccinated immediately if a covid vaccine becomes available that is effective and has few side effects. 13 percent firmly reject a vaccine. The rest will therefore wait and see and will not immediately get vaccinated when they are called up.
–
“The group of doubters is found throughout society,” says researcher Niek Mouter of TU Delft. According to Mouter, there are mainly doubts about the risks of a vaccine, and there are concerns about side effects in the short and long term.
–
–
Healthcare workers are not at the front of the queue for vaccinations, the study shows. That is representative for the whole of the Netherlands, not for healthcare workers. But researchers do see striking results: almost 80 percent of the health care workers surveyed want to wait to see what the experiences of others are like, 13 percent never want to.
Only 8 percent would want a vaccine immediately. This is in line with an earlier study by healthcare trade union NU’91, which showed that a large number of healthcare workers would not just want a vaccination.
“Health care workers depend very much on the characteristics of the vaccine,” says researcher Mouter. “They make a rational choice and want to know how effective it is, what the side effects and other characteristics are.”
–
Doubts among healthcare workers
One of those doubting care workers is Esther van Velzen. She works in a rehabilitation hotel, including with covid patients, and she finds it a difficult issue. “I first want to know what the side effects are in the longer term. You inject something into your body, I want to know all about it. That information gives you the freedom to choose,” she says.
Van Velzen works with older, vulnerable people. “If I were to take it, it would rather be for my environment. People should be able to make their own choice, with all the information available. There is no right or wrong in it.”
Weak health
There is also doubt about the vaccine among vulnerable groups. For example, Mira Thompson would like a vaccine, because she fears her isolation will take a very long time otherwise. “I barely get out, don’t let anyone in my house. I’m waiting to live in freedom again,” says Thomspson.
Thompson is in doubt. “There are of course also risks associated with such a vaccine. If you already have poor health, then that is worrying. It is nice that I qualify for a vaccine earlier, but I also have my doubts. my body on it, what are the long-term effects “, she wonders.
According to researcher Niek Mouter, the government should provide detailed information about the vaccine, if it is available. “And also offer perspective. If people still have doubts, you have to let them know whether they can still receive a vaccine later, or whether they should follow up afterwards.”
–
