Identifying concerns about the Covid-19 Vaccine

Healthwatch Worcestershire undertook research on concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine. They received 357 survey responses between March and June 2021, including 182 people who expressed concerns about having the vaccination. Most respondents with concerns were aged between 18 and 49 years.

The most common concerns related to vaccine safety, perceived insufficient testing, potential long-term effects and reports of blood clots. Other issues included worries about short-term side effects, the impact of the vaccine on existing health conditions and concerns about fertility. A small number of people felt the vaccine was unnecessary because they were not worried about catching COVID-19, while others said they would only have the vaccine if it enabled them to travel. 

Most respondents said they obtained information from official sources such as NHS and Government websites, although friends and relatives were also an important source of information. Among respondents from Black and Asian communities, friends and relatives were the most commonly reported source of information, followed by official websites and community or religious organisations. Social media sources most frequently mentioned were Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. 

The report also identified practical barriers to vaccination. Many people said they would prefer to receive the vaccine at their GP surgery, while others reported difficulties attending appointments during working hours, preferred telephone rather than online booking, or faced barriers relating to language, transport and distance to vaccination sites. Healthwatch Worcestershire shared the findings with NHS leaders, public health teams and the local Vaccine Inequality Programme to help address concerns and improve access to vaccination services.