Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Fatigue
A recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine found that vaccine fatigue, defined as "unwillingness or inaction toward vaccine information or instruction due to perceived burden or burnout," is leading many Americans to refuse booster shots. The study, which surveyed 6,357 people in Austria and Italy, found that low trust in medical institutions, governments, and vaccinations was a common thread in the findings, particularly around vaccine mandates. The study also identified several approaches to countering vaccine fatigue, including offering adapted vaccines at different times of year, retaining low-threshold access to vaccinations, and ensuring that people take experts’ views into account.