Why vaccine hesitancy among the youth should be cause for concern
Members of the public queue to receive Covid-19 vaccine at Kencom bus stop in Nairobi on December 29, 2021.
What you need to know:
- Young people often make decisions based on what their friends are saying.
- Negative comments on Covid-19 vaccination may result in them not getting vaccinated at all.
Last year, when I got my Covid-19 vaccine, it came with a lot of mixed reactions among my friends. I was the first among my peers and family to get vaccinated.
While my parents and relatives congratulated me for taking the big step, most of my friends were highly circumspect.
They warned me that, for a whole week, I would get sick and regret getting vaccinated. Others said vaccination was a hoax and they would never get it.
Others sent me videos of people with deformed faces after getting vaccinated. What followed was a week of constant monitoring and calls from my family to find out about my progress so that they could decide whether or not they would also get vaccinated.
Upon seeing no side effects, my parents and some of my friends also decided to get vaccinated. This is what is happening in schools, homes and villages.
Myths and misconception
Young people are very influential among family members and their peers. The recent announcement by the Health Ministry on mandatory vaccination forced a lot of Kenyans to get vaccinated for fear of being denied government services. The elderly and parents found themselves consulting the younger generation who are more up to date with latest happenings.
Young people often make decisions based on what their friends are saying, hence, negative comments on Covid-19 vaccination may result in them not getting vaccinated at all.
My friends are hesitant about getting the jab because of myths and misconception circulating on social media. The Health ministry should take vaccine hesitancy among the youth seriously. The youths can influence opinions in their villages, homes and social groups. The government should invest more in educating the youth about the importance of getting vaccinated.
Young people should research the facts on Covid-19 vaccination. They should turn out in large numbers to get vaccinated and be role models to the other people who are still unsure about being vaccinated.
Caroline Gatwiri is a communication and journalism student at Maasai Mara University.
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