Table 2.
Perspectives about personal responsibility for COVID-19 vaccination.
| Topic | Verbatim Comments from Vaccinated Respondents | Verbatim Comments from Unvaccinated Respondents |
|---|---|---|
| Personal role in improving public health through vaccination | For my own protection and the hope that it will protect others by stopping the spread of COVID | I am a healthy, active, young woman and I do not feel I am at high risk for COVID-19 causing death. |
| Wife is pregnant, got it for her and the baby’s protection | I am a healthy individual. I don’t get sick that often. I have no health issues. By personal choice I am ok letting my immune system fight it off. | |
| I was happy that it was provided to first responders. I am happy to have it to protect myself, my coworkers, and most important, my family at home. | I think they are great for elderly patients but the risk/reward isn’t practical for healthy adults and children. | |
| Vaccination benefits | Benefits outweigh the risks. There is potential for side effects/adverse reactions however there is greater chance of lessening disease severity and transmission rate. | The COVID-19 vac does not and will not prevent anyone from contracting COVID and there is no evidence that it will lessen the symptoms. |
| I’d rather have minimal side effects than be a COVID long hauler, or worse- dead. | From what I have seen first hand the vaccine doesn’t work and it is dangerous. | |
| This all boils down to risk vs. benefit. Risk-effectiveness of vaccine, long term side effects Reward-piece of mind, herd immunity. | Unsure as to the importance of receiving a vaccine for a virus for which you can still be a carrier even after the vaccine. | |
| Protection conferred by vaccination |
The immunity they [vaccines] provide is greater than naturally acquired immunity from getting infected with the virus. I was happy to get it. | If science can show my antibodies don’t last as long or are less than a vaccines, then I’ll definitely consider it. |
| I contracted covid last year, as did many of my coworkers, and I still have the antibodies. But as soon as a vaccine was available, we all got it. With no history of adverse reactions from vaccinations, it was simply stupid not to. | I do not feel that those that have already had COVID-19 need to be vaccinated for it. Their body already has the antibodies. | |
| I already had covid. I have high antibodies but got it for further protection. | I already had COVID and survived it. My body won’t forget how to make antibodies. |