Once exponential, the Covid vaccination rates in Ohio have become idle. The initial wave of people eager to get their shots has come and gone, leaving more than half of the state’s population unconvinced and unvaccinated.
With the current vaccination rate sitting at 42%, health professionals are attempting to explain the less-than-encouraging numbers. The three most cited causes for the low vaccination rates are education, incentives, and accessibility.
Lots of people are wary when it comes to the Covid vaccine. Whether it be due to the vaccine’s reported, albeit rare, negative side effects or reservations about different ingredients in the vaccine, a large chunk of the population has voiced their concerns and reasons for staying unvaccinated. In order to dispel doubts about the vaccine, many doctors are suggesting that we get rid of mass vaccination sites and move towards individual meetings with doctors.
Mass vaccination clinics don’t allow much time for questions. Moving vaccinations to doctor’s offices would allow for a more honest conversation between patient and doctor, one in which both parties fully trust each other.
"These vaccines need to get away from these mass vaccination centers and out to primary care offices," Adena Health’s Dr. Kirk Tucker said. "So people who are hesitant can ask a trusted provider questions."
The incentives for getting a Covid vaccine could also be enhanced and advertised accordingly. Many companies have already announced rewards for patrons who’ve been vaccinated. Uber and Lyft are even offering free rides to vaccination sites.
Dr. Joseph Gastaldo says that accessibility needs to be improved if we want to see increased vaccination rates.
"We need to bring vaccines to people and to places where they work," said Dr. Gastaldo. "We need to bring vaccines to places where they worship, neighborhoods, and restaurants. We need to create a buzz in the community about vaccines."
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