Health

16 HE ALTH • Fall 2021 D r. Eric Dickson, president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health in Worcester, remembers when the vaccines against COVID-19 first became available early this year. "People were trying to cut in line," Dickson said. "You couldn't get it out fast enough." But, months later, a quarter of Worcester County residents age 12 and up still haven't gotten a first shot. (None of the COVID vaccines are yet approved for children under 12.) And, since the virus spreads much more easily among those who are unvaccinated, that group is helping to fuel the resurgence of cases coming with the Delta variant of the disease. Dickson said it's important not to lump all people who are choosing not to get vaccinated into a single group. He said a fairly small percentage of people are dead set against getting the shot, generally because of incorrect information they've heard. Some falsely believe the vaccines contain microchips or alter people's DNA, and, in many cases, can't be talked out of these ideas. "And then there's the people that say 'I don't like needles, I don't like getting shots,'" Dickson said. "Or they say 'I get sick when I get vaccines.'" Those are legitimate concerns, Dickson said, and he has hope people who have them can be convinced to get the vaccine to protect themselves and others. One way to do that is to talk them through their worries. For example, shots and adverse reactions to the vaccine may be unpleasant, but they're not nearly as bad as many cases of COVID. And, while vaccine-hesitant people may know people can still get the disease after vaccination, they may not realize getting the shot reduces both the likelihood of contracting the disease and the severity of cases that do occur. Thoughtful encouragement James Abare, health agent for the Town of Winchendon, said he often ends up talking with people who are worried about getting vaccinated. "I try and tell people if they do have concerns on the vaccine to please have an honest discussion with their family doctor," Abare said. "They probably are not best served getting medical advice from politicians and TV personalities, so I try to steer them toward their doctor." Abare said he's heard from some people who believe false conspiracy theories about the vaccine, but the biggest issue he's heard local residents raise is that the COVID vaccines don't yet have full approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Due to the urgency of getting shots in arms, the federal agency issued emergency use authorizations for the vaccines after rigorous testing but before completing its full approval process. Federal health authorities have said they hope the COVID vaccines will get full approval before September, and Abare said that may ease some With COVID cases rising again, employers and local leaders are working to raise vaccination rates • By Livia Gershon Fighting vaccine hesitancy PHOTO/MATT WRIGHT Dr. Eric Dickson, CEO & president, UMass Memorial Health

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