According to a study published in the journal Vaccine, the rate of receiving the COVID-19 vaccination is doubled after hearing first-hand accounts of someone who contracted the illness or died from it. In the study, the researchers surveyed 1,193 people in the US who were eligible for the vaccine to see who knew family members or friends who had recovered, were still sick, or had died from COVID-19 and had received at least one dose of the vaccine.

The researchers discovered that older respondents, especially those with higher incomes or higher levels of education, were more likely to receive their initial vaccination dose within four months of the EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) in comparison to essential workers and those with good or better health status. The study noted that those without insurance, Alaskan natives, or American Indians had a considerably lower likelihood of receiving the vaccination within four months of the EUA.

The lead author of the study, Mr. Saurabh Kalra, a doctoral student at the Rutgers School of Public Health in the US, stated that the messenger matters more than the message. Therefore, hearing about the experiences of a trusted person, such as a friend or family member, can be more effective than vaccine mandates. The results of the study emphasized the need for focused initiatives to raise immunization rates among young adults, those with less education, and those who reside in lower-income households. 

(Source: https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1047175 )