Psychology of Fear: Vaccine Hesitancy, a Major Barrier to Full and Fair Balanced Reporting of Injuries, Disabilities, and Death after Vaccination

Abstract

Throughout history, there has always been fear of untreatable, potentially fatal communicable disease. Immunization has been an advancement in population health that has developed over three centuries. However, fear of side effects is a psychological phenomenon that has arisen as a substantial issue for the lay public. Vaccine hesitancy, a complex phenomenon rooted in historical resistance to immunization, poses significant challenges as a concept to the research and public health communities. This manuscript explores its origins from the 18th century, methods for measurement using scales and surveys, and its effects on public health, including disease outbreaks and eroded herd immunity and avoidance of vaccine serious adverse events. Drawing on historical and contemporary evidence there is a biased impact of vaccine hesitancy research in working to suppress full and fair-balanced reporting of vaccine adverse and serious adverse events. Such events may lead to injuries, disabilities, and death. Fear of amplifying vaccine hesitancy may impact the mental well-being of healthcare providers with the injection of guilt, remorse, and regret of not being truthful about side effects. Without balance in reporting and publication of vaccine safety, the medical literature has become distorted in representing real risks and theoretical benefits of immunization.