As the vaccine is promoted to young people, call for a solution to complacency

Experts say that with the introduction of the coronavirus vaccine to young people, global efforts must address complacency.

Scientists from the United Kingdom, the United States and South Africa said that a five-pronged approach is needed to deal with the five Cs—confidence, complacency, convenience, communication, and background—to combat vaccine hesitation.

They wrote in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine that complacency due to low awareness of personal risks and disease severity, especially among young people and people with lower socioeconomic status, is closely related to lower vaccination rates.

One of the authors, Dr. Mohammad Razai of the Institute of Population Health, University of St. George, London, said: “As vaccines are being provided to lower age groups, addressing complacency through repeated risk communication is essential to promote informed decision making.

“It is important to emphasize the greater social benefits of population immunization and the protection it provides for vulnerable groups, their families and friends.”