Women and elderly people are more likely to be vaccine-hesitant, according to a major study published in The Lancet, which analysed data from more than 1.1 million people in England during the Covid-19 vaccination drive.

The study, conducted by Imperial College London, examined patterns of Covid vaccine uptake and found that hesitancy was largely driven by concerns over vaccine safety, effectiveness, and potential side effects. Although hesitancy declined significantly over time, it continues to persist among certain groups.

Researchers found that the likelihood of remaining unvaccinated was higher among older adults, women, unemployed individuals, people living in deprived areas, those with a previous Covid infection, and individuals with lower levels of education.

The study identified eight key reasons for vaccine resistance, including fear of side effects, mistrust in vaccine developers, perception of low personal risk, and general opposition to vaccines. Women were particularly concerned about fertility-related risks, while older adults were more likely to oppose vaccination in general.

Men were more likely than women to believe Covid did not pose a personal risk (18 per cent vs 10 per cent). Meanwhile, 21 per cent of women expressed fertility concerns compared with 8 per cent of men, and 12 per cent of people aged 74 and above reported general anti-vaccine attitudes, compared with 2.5 per cent of those aged 18–24.

More than 40 per cent of participants also raised concerns about long-term health effects, while 39 per cent said they preferred to “wait and watch” before getting vaccinated. Around 37 per cent cited concerns over immediate side effects.

“As the vaccine rollout progressed, public confidence improved and initial scepticism reduced significantly,” said Professor Helen Ward, co-author of the study.

Overall, 3.3 per cent of participants reported some level of Covid vaccine hesitancy, dropping from 8 per cent in early 2021 to just 1.1 per cent in early 2022, before rising slightly to 2.2 per cent during the Omicron wave.

The findings underline the need for continued public health awareness, targeted communication campaigns, and trusted medical guidance to address lingering doubts about Covid vaccination safety and effectiveness.

IANS