More than a quarter of Americans in the United States are refusing to get the recently formulated COVID-19 vaccines, causing dilemmas and worries about its distribution. Many are concerned about its effectiveness and whether or not the vaccine is trustworthy. As a result, people are hesitant to get it.
One event that has contributed to these hesitations is the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. The Tuskegee experiment was a study conducted from the 1930’s to the 1970’s. Medical professionals conducted a study to see the effects that Black men, with syphilis, were experiencing. Although penicillin became the treatment for syphilis in the 1940’s, the researchers who were involved in the study did not offer it to their subjects.
Their subjects did not receive any medical treatment to cure the disease that they had. Krisiti L. Nelson from Knox News suggests, “The Tuskegee syphilis study has long been cited as a reason black men are less likely to seek medical care.” In other words, there was distrust in the medical field after the study was conducted.
Meanwhile, people are choosing to not get the COVID-19 vaccines because of their lack of trust in the workers and the vaccine itself. Individuals are having a difficult time relying on medical professionals based on their past experiences and stories that they have heard. Others think that the vaccines are a hoax. From their point of view, they believe that the virus doesn’t exist.
“Many Americans refuse to wear masks because they don’t feel the coronavirus is real,” stated by Zakiya Whatley and Titilayo Shodiya from Scientific American. The skepticism surrounding the coronavirus is causing individuals in the United States to refuse to get the vaccines.
Other people are refusing to get the vaccines due to their fear of needles. Tyranphobia, a fear of needles and injections, is causing citizens to reject the COVID-19 vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccines are inserted through the arm, which is a problem since many individuals have phobias.
Turning down the COVID-19 vaccines is an issue that surrounds the country. The more people refuse to get the vaccines, the more likely it is that the virus will continue to spread. In addition, without preventions or precautions, the spread of the pandemic will last longer than it should.
Cover photo courtesy of ABC 7 Chicago.
About the writer:
Mary Grace Contreras is a staff writer for The Lion's Roar. You can learn more information about her by clicking here.
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