Vaccines Through the Looking Glass – Differentiating Between Hesitancy, Conspiracy and Delusions
Author(s)
Kisely, SR
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2022
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background: People with serious mental illness (SMI) are a priority group for vaccination given they are at increased risk of being infected by COVID-19 and have higher subsequent rates of hospitalisation, morbidity and mortality. They may, however, be potentially less likely to receive vaccines.Objectives: To describe and differentiate the reasons behind vaccine refusal. Methods: A review of the relevant published literature and World Health Organisation guidance.Findings: The reasons why people choose not to vaccinate include complacency, inconvenience, poor access, lack ...
View more >Background: People with serious mental illness (SMI) are a priority group for vaccination given they are at increased risk of being infected by COVID-19 and have higher subsequent rates of hospitalisation, morbidity and mortality. They may, however, be potentially less likely to receive vaccines.Objectives: To describe and differentiate the reasons behind vaccine refusal. Methods: A review of the relevant published literature and World Health Organisation guidance.Findings: The reasons why people choose not to vaccinate include complacency, inconvenience, poor access, lack of confidence, and erroneous, conspiratorial or delusional beliefs. Delusional beliefs are characterised by anomalous subjective experiences and ideas of self-reference rather than being derived from secondary sources such as the Internet.Conclusions: Mental health clinicians have a key role in facilitating the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination for those with SMI. Interventions range from improving access, exploring reasons for hesitancy, risk/benefit decision aids and the clarification of misconceptions through to the identification and treatment of delusional beliefs.
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View more >Background: People with serious mental illness (SMI) are a priority group for vaccination given they are at increased risk of being infected by COVID-19 and have higher subsequent rates of hospitalisation, morbidity and mortality. They may, however, be potentially less likely to receive vaccines.Objectives: To describe and differentiate the reasons behind vaccine refusal. Methods: A review of the relevant published literature and World Health Organisation guidance.Findings: The reasons why people choose not to vaccinate include complacency, inconvenience, poor access, lack of confidence, and erroneous, conspiratorial or delusional beliefs. Delusional beliefs are characterised by anomalous subjective experiences and ideas of self-reference rather than being derived from secondary sources such as the Internet.Conclusions: Mental health clinicians have a key role in facilitating the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination for those with SMI. Interventions range from improving access, exploring reasons for hesitancy, risk/benefit decision aids and the clarification of misconceptions through to the identification and treatment of delusional beliefs.
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Conference Title
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
Volume
56
Issue
1_suppl
Subject
Cognitive and computational psychology
Health services and systems
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Psychiatry
Science & Technology