Why Do People Hesitate?

In this pandemic world, we see headlines about new surges and chaos because people hesitate to get vaccinated. Yes, every unvaccinated person is at higher risk of contracting the virus than the vaccinated. Why do people hesitate?

I put ’causes of hesitation’ into Mr. Google, and I got a page full of information about why cars hesitate – not accelerate properly. One would assume that the focus would be on those not wanting the vaccine, with the term hesitate used so often with the pandemic.

I think there are several potential valid answers to why people hesitate to get vaccinated. Some of them may overlap a bit. I have postponed my vaccination until at least September. I have said this continually over the months since vaccines were available.

I have told people that I will not get the mRNA vaccine but will seriously consider the viral vector options. The technology is too new for mRNA vaccines in humans, and those vaccines (actually, all the covid-vaccines) are still considered experimental because they were granted Emergency Use Authorization and not full approval). The clinical testing process was truncated to get a vaccine to the marketplace quicker. I think there are other people in my category – not now – but down the road – most likely this year.

Generically, people hesitate because they do not want to make the wrong decision – fear of failure – some even fear of success. However, is fear of failure a genuine reason to decline the pandemic vaccine? What is failing? Millions of people have been vaccinated – thousands have died quickly after becoming vaccinated. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/adverse-events.html.

Yes, fear of dying is a valid reason not to do something. However, the risk is more significant for an unvaccinated person to become infected than a vaccinated person. It was sad to learn yesterday a family relation lost his life to the pandemic virus. It is interesting to see the headlines about vaccinated people becoming infected. The vaccine does not guarantee that you will not get the virus. However, it gives you a higher level of protection from hospitalization and death.

Fear might be used as a reason when people believe the vaccine will cause them more harm. But, again, the virus will cause more harm than a vaccine for most. However, when fear is based on your belief, anything is possible.

Risk is another reason why people avoid vaccines. They are maybe hoping that herd immunity will give them adequate protection. However, the risk of infection ebbs and flows with societal norms. Remove masks and social distancing, and the risk of infection goes up.

Maybe the risk is viewed more clearly that a person’s immune system is enough to protect them. For example, I fast 72 hours (minimum) once a month. Most of the time, I end up fasting for over 100 hours. An extended-fast resets my immune system to 100%. https://gero.usc.edu/2018/11/26/fasting-for-72-hours-can-reset-your-entire-immune-system/. I have been doing this for years.

People can reduce the risk of infection by blocking the ACE2 receptor (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor) that the spike of the SARS-CoV-2 virus attaches itself (https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.03681-20) to a human cell. This last link gives over twenty current medications or compounds that block the ACE2 receptor.

Synthetic options can be found on the following link and some natural alternatives that block the ACE2 and ACE1 receptors. Generically, they are called ARB (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7504743/), and several countries use them to reduce the severity and mortality associated with the pandemic virus. ARB, angiotensin receptor blocking, inhibits or prevents the full attachments of the virus spike.

A list of twenty natural flavonoids and related compounds (see link above) have been tested for years to inhibit the ACE2 receptor. Several of the ones I use daily for personal protection are vitamin D3, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG from green tea), nicotinamide (niacin – vitamin B3), and zinc.

When I leave the house, I inhale a nasal spray of xylitol and grapeseed extract found in Xlear (CVS Pharmacy) https://www.news-medical.net/news/20201116/Xylitol-and-grapefruit-seed-extract-nasal-spray-could-help-COVID-19-patients.aspx. There are personal protections in addition to face masks, hand-washing, and social distance that are effective.

I strive to provide awareness and education in the health and wellness world. I research the human body at the cellular level looking for cause and effect relationships. Treat a cause and fix a problem. Treat a symptom, and you will always treat that symptom. I am a researcher, not a doctor. I educate. I provide information for people to become informed and, if needed, ask their doctors about improving their health.

What about religious objections to vaccines? Yes, there are some. https://www.verywellfamily.com/religious-exemptions-to-vaccines-2633702 This link identifies a few. Religious objections (hesitancy, as some people refer to it) are just as strong as a person’s beliefs or fears. After all, a religious belief is one of the strongest beliefs that humans have.

I believe that most of the hesitators have trust issues with the medical and governmental authorities. https://www.verywellfamily.com/religious-exemptions-to-vaccines-2633702. Several surveys have been done over the months before and after vaccines were introduced. Over time, the percentage of people having trust issues has declined. However, there are many remaining. This is not something found in the United States. There are countries with people who have significant trust issues with their governments.

Media and education form most of our opinions. We choose to believe them or not. Is climate change real, for example? What about religious beliefs of gay marriage or abortion? People stand firmly on both sides. Whom do you trust? More education and advertising are not going to change a trust issue for most people. They do not believe in rhetoric, regardless of whether it is true or not.

I like to use the example of two people sitting at a card table. A large number is in the middle of the table. The person on the bottom of the table sees the number six. The person at the top of the table sees the number nine. Both witness and believe what they see. They are convinced they are correct. Nothing will change their minds. They know what six looks like and what nine looks like, and they are not the same.

Conclusion

Yes, there are many people on hold for various reasons when it comes to the pandemic vaccine. Will we change their minds? Yes, a few. However, the majority will remain firmly convinced that the covid-vaccine is not safe at this time. Will that change in the future. I hope so.

Live Longer & Enjoy Life – Red O’Laughlin – RedOLaughlin.com