Majority of Latinos Are Skeptical About COVID-19 Vaccine, New Study Shows

A new study revealed that the majority of Latinos and Blacks are still skeptical of the COVID-19 vaccine in terms of its safety and effectiveness.

Latinos and Blacks, or the minorities, are the hardest hit groups of the global pandemic. They have the highest rates of infection and hospitalization because most of them are essential workers.

They work as household keepers, grocery staff, and farmers, among others. These jobs are more likely to expose them to the virus.

Read also: Why Wearing a Mask Is Still Important After Getting a Vaccine? 

Majority of Latinos and Blacks Show Fear Over COVID-19 Vaccine

The wearing of a face mask, strict observance of social distancing, handwashing, and other COVID-19 measures, including fear of being infected with the virus, have consumed most of everyone's lives this year. This pandemic has infected and claimed the lives of millions of people around the world. 

Despite the discovery of COVID-19 vaccines in the previous month, the majority of Latinos and Blacks still show fear over the COVID-19 vaccine. According to a WISN ABC report, they remain split on either getting a vaccine or not. 

A new study between the NAACP, UnidosUS, Lancer Research, and the COVID collaborative revealed that only 34 percent of Latinos trust the vaccine. In comparison, only 14 percent of Blacks are willing to be inoculated. That means that minorities show fear of the vaccine. 

Why Minorities Show Fear Towards the Vaccine?

There could be many reasons why the majority of minorities show fear of COVID-19 vaccines.

One woman said during an interview on Monday: "I've just got my doubts. It just happened too fast, the vaccine happened too fast." The speed at how the vaccines were developed was her prime concern. 

Lottisha Williams said: "To be honest, I probably wouldn't. I don't know if it would make anything worsen or I'm not sure how my body would react to it." She was referring to the effect of the vaccine that used a new technology called mRNA. 

Another woman said: "They don't know what's in it. They don't know who made it or where it came from. They're scared." 

Many minorities believed that the new vaccine is coming from the virus itself and is injected into a person's body to develop antibodies. 

Margarita Holguin, director of Partnership Initiatives with We Support U, also shared that mistrust existed. She emphasized that it is part of the culture, according to an NBC 7 San Diego report.

"Some of the things we're seeing is that they think the vaccine has the virus and that the virus will be injected into them," she added.

Read also: Dr. Fauci Shares His Biggest Fear About COVID-19 Vaccine 

Vaccine's Effectiveness Is Yet To Be Known

Some vaccine developers and manufacturers have already said that their vaccines are 90 or 95 percent effective against the virus.

However, the country's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and other health experts recommended that those who would receive the vaccine must continue to wear a mask and observe other COVID-19 measures. 

They said that the vaccine is safe, but it is still unknown whether the vaccines only reduce the symptoms or protect a person against the infection.