It Is Crucial to Talk Openly About Vaccine Side Effects if We Are to Defeat the COVID Pandemic

“When communication about vaccines is not transparent, it triggers uncertainty and people feel they may be misled,” says Michael Bang Petersen, professor of political science at Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University. Credit: Aarhus University

New research from Aarhus BSS at Aarhus University shows that openness about the effectiveness and side effects of vaccines bolster confidence in the health authorities, and this is a crucial factor if we are to defeat the coronavirus pandemic.

Concerns have been raised about the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines regarding very rare but potentially fatal side effects related to low blood platelet counts and blood clots. Recently, reports also emerged that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine may cause a rare yet serious side effect: heart inflammation. Concerns about side effects may trigger vaccine hesitancy, which the WHO considers one of ‘Ten threats to global health‘. Securing sufficient acceptance of vaccines is a key challenge in defeating the coronavirus pandemic, both now and in the future.

How can health authorities and politicians help ensure public acceptance of vaccines, which  – their rare side effects aside – have proven effective in preventing serious Covid-19 disease? The best way to do this is to talk openly about all aspects of the vaccines including potential negative aspects such as side effects.

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