Fear of adverse effects or death was the main reason some Jamaicans refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine, according to data from one of several studies revealed on Wednesday at the 66th Annual Caribbean Public Health Agency Health Research Conference.

The recent study — COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in the Jamaican Populace: Prevalence and Associated Factors — was conducted by Dr Petagaye Thomas Brown and Dr Donna-Marie Wynter Adams from University of Technology, Jamaica to develop local approaches or campaigns which will provide reliable information and dispel myths and concerns regarding vaccines.

A virtual survey was conducted between September and October 2021 among 580 Jamaicans within the 18 to 45 age groups who had tertiary level education.

While fear was marked as the main reason with 171 responses, lack of reliable information had 102 responses, experimental/too many uncertainties had 81 responses, insufficient clinical evidence about safety had 71 responses and rushed development got 57 responses.

“Once there were safety concerns — for example once they believed the vaccine was unsafe or if someone told them that the vaccine was unsafe, or if they had any concern at all about the side effect of the technology used, or if they knew someone who had a reaction to the vaccine, they were more likely to be hesitant,” said Thomas Brown, who presented the findings from the survey.

“Perceived hesitancy of the vaccine was also a concern as many respondents did not think the vaccine was needed or that it would work and therefore they were more hesitant towards the vaccine. Also, they were more hesitant if they believed vaccines cannot protect against serious diseases,” she added.

At the same time, referencing the data, Thomas Brown explained that when politicians supported or endorsed the vaccines, they were more likely to be hesitant as well.

However, the survey also showed that when the vaccine was endorsed by pastors, teachers, and health care workers, they were more likely to accept the vaccine.

For the age groups, the survey indicated that the likelihood of hesitancy was greater for people younger than age 36.

“Age group was significantly associated with the hesitancy where the likelihood of hesitancy was greater for persons younger than age 36. Additionally, hesitancy was less in persons who were above age 45 and more significant for persons who were above 55. We also had hesitancy being less in persons with a tertiary level education and persons who were considered to be health care workers,” Thomas Brown said.

Most of the respondents were from Kingston and St Andrew and St Catherine and were significantly associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy concerns.

“If we look at St Catherine we can see that more respondents were hesitant, however the parish was not significant in the regression analysis. There were various reasons offered for refusing or delaying acceptance of the vaccine with a fear of adverse effect or death, and a lack of reliable information being the most prevalent responses,” she said.

The results from the survey concluded that prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the respondents was 29.8 per cent with increased odds amongst respondents younger than 36 years, with parenthood and with delayed initial vaccine acceptance.

“Hesitancy increased with safety and efficacy concerns and a general lack of reliable information about the vaccine. Hesitancy decreased for persons older than 36 years, for health-care workers, [people] with higher education, and the belief that the vaccine was safe,” said Thomas Brown.