Orange residents, students express hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines

Vaccines are available for mass distribution, yet some Americans remain uncertain about the efficiency and long-term effects of current vaccine variants. Graphic by HARRY LADA, Art Director

President Joe Biden announced March 11 that all U.S. adults would be eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine by May 1, though lingering hesitations about getting vaccinated are ever-present among some Chapman University students and Orange residents. Currently, there are three major authorized vaccines available in the United States: Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson.

A March 5 research study on American vaccine hesitancy by the Pew Research Center surveyed adults who either probably would not or will not seek out a vaccination. Respondents’ motivations could be traced back to three core fears: 72% of the adults surveyed stated they were concerned about the vaccines’ side effects, 67% felt they did not want to get the vaccine due to the speed at which variants were authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for public dissemination and 61% desired to wait and review the effectiveness of the vaccines before committing to a vaccination appointment.

Amy Kang, an assistant professor in Chapman’s School of Pharmacy, acknowledges these concerns, but said the benefits of receiving the vaccine outweigh the minimal risks associated with contracting COVID-19. Kang also works at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where she organized a vaccination clinic with other Chapman faculty and students.

“We don’t know the long-term effects of the vaccination, but one thing that we do know is there are serious consequences of getting COVID-19 infection,” Kang said. “There have been numerous clinical studies that reported how detrimental it could be due to the hospitalization related to COVID-19.”

Paulie Calabrese, an Orange resident since 1970, is hesitant to get vaccinated despite being diagnosed with diabetes and leukemia. The “Our City of Orange, California” Facebook group co-administrator told The Panther she feels the vaccines were released prematurely. After weighing her odds, she said she would rather get COVID-19 than receive a vaccine with side effects.

“It’s just been way too quick, and I thank God it’s here, but I’m also afraid because there’s not been enough time for trials,” Calabrese said. “They want to get rid of it so fast. Of course they do; we all do. But I don’t believe that there’s been enough time to have really studied this vaccine and studied what the side effects are.”

While there have been over 500 COVID-19 trials conducted or currently in process, Calabrese said that she has not yet spoken with her doctors and is ignoring emails and text notifications that remind her to get a vaccine.

Sophomore Isaiah Jeannot, a self-created interdisciplinary studies major focusing on Black studies and women gender studies, is one of several hesitant Chapman students. He said that he and other members of the BIPOC community don’t trust the American government due to the history of medical malpractice against the Black community.

“For me, it’s been really confusing because I’m all for ‘mask on’ and lockdowns and trying to do what we can to help everyone,” Jeannot said. “Honestly, where my lack of trust comes from is understanding the relationship between our government and the Black community in America.”

Jeannot said he is also worried about the vaccines’ ingredients and the potential long-term effects that could arise.

“It’s just hard being able to be fully confident and not anxious about what we’re putting into our bodies,” Jeannot said. “And not that I think we shouldn’t get the vaccine and not that I think the vaccine is a conspiracy theory … I’m just saying that I understand the anxiousness and the worry.”

Graphic design major Alice Premeau, who took an academic year off from Chapman and will return in August 2021 as a senior, received the Johnson & Johnson shot March 8. She said that she was more nervous about getting poked by the needle than any hypothetical vaccine side effects. However, at the end of the day, she was happy to have received the shot.

“The needles — that’s something that only lasts for not even 30 seconds,” she said. “And for me, being able to protect my family and my friends is worth that 30 seconds of having a needle in my arm and whatever side effects (may) come after that.”

Premeau told The Panther she did not experience any symptoms from the vaccine until 8 hours after receiving it. She reported a mild headache, hot and cold flashes, fatigue and difficulty sleeping, but all of her symptoms except for her headache stopped by noon the following day. These symptoms are also listed as common side effects on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Kang said that students who are nervous or anxious about the vaccine should speak with their healthcare providers, pharmacists or even Chapman’s Student Health Services.

Clarification: Paulie Calabrese has disregarded emails and text notifications that remind her to get a vaccine because she is waiting to speak with her doctor at an upcoming appointment. In addition, Calabrese said she would rather chance contracting COVID-19 and take safety precautions while ill until there is more research on possible vaccine complications.