How to get people to accept a COVID vaccine: 5 key steps from Johns Hopkins expert

Pharmaceutical giants are preparing for the approval of a coronavirus vaccine, which could happen in just weeks, but getting the public to accept it will hinge on careful messaging and transparency, according to a Johns Hopkins expert.

“Vaccines do not save lives, vaccination saves lives. So we now need to figure out how to get people to accept these vaccines,” said Rupali Limaye, associate scientist in the department of international health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Limaye outlined five ways to assure the public that getting a coronavirus vaccine is safe, starting with understanding attitudes toward a vaccine.

Vaccine intentions vary among different groups and communities, Limaye said, citing surveys that people of color may be more hesitant to get a vaccine than white people.

Once public health leaders, doctors and officials can get a grasp on different attitudes, messaging needs to address specific reasons for hesitancy.

“The messaging that we use to nudge people toward vaccine acceptance must be salient, it must be impactful,” Limaye said.

Clear and transparent communication about the vaccine must come from respected and trusted local leaders.

“A lot of people are feeling uncertainty, fear and anxiety. To mitigate this panic and encourage appropriate behavioral action, it is crucial that we have clear and consistent communication,” Limaye said.

A coronavirus vaccine could make its way to priority groups this month, and while the encouraging news of light at the end of the tunnel will provide relief for many, lots of obstacles remain.

Dr. William Moss, executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at Johns Hopkins, said, “These vaccines are not going to be the silver bullet that brings us back to the pre-pandemic period.”

He said public health interventions will still be necessary after the vaccine comes out, but a phased shift to normalcy will occur throughout next year.

As we move through 2021, answers about the impact of a vaccine on children, pregnant women and coronavirus transmission will need to be studied, Moss said.

“If the vaccine can stop transmission, it’s going to have a greater impact on the pandemic,” Moss said.

Moderna and Pfizer, currently the only two companies seeking emergency-use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for their vaccine candidates, have earned global recognition with a bump in stocks to match.

Moderna stock has soared to more than $150 a share since announcing its submission to the FDA, sitting at $157.63 at market close on Thursday.

Pfizer stock also saw a boost, rising to around $40 a share since its announcement and closing out the day at $40.09 on Thursday.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3qruqN1