Afiniki Akanet is a GP and author of inspirational books, including Life Without Coffee: Choosing Happiness Over Stress, Taking CSA Tomorrow: Get in The Right Mindset for Your MRCGP Exam, and 2020 Year of Plenty. Her special interest is mental health. She is also the founder of Forte Charity for Inspiration. You can read more about her work at Afiniki.co.uk.
It was with great hope for a better 2021 that we ended last year having heard the news of effective vaccines for COVID-19.
We will never forget the year of two lockdowns, thousands of lives lost and fears of over-burdening the NHS. Sadly, we had to go into another lockdown in England for the start of the new year, as coronavirus infection rates continued to rise. It became a race between vaccinations and rates of infection during the third lockdown. A plan to first vaccinate the most vulnerable and exposed was drawn up, with the availability of vaccines being the main rate-limiting factor.
Interestingly, there were also different attitudes to the vaccine, especially among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups, which also affected uptake of available vaccines. Conspiracy theories about the new vaccines were being spread on WhatsApp and social media sites, raising questions about possible unknown side effects and ulterior motives.
… nothing I have read or seen so far has given me unusual cause for concern about the vaccine, but I am interested in a possible ‘side effect’ …
As a GP, I have the privilege of prompt access to COVID-19 vaccination and vaccine training as a vaccinator, and nothing I have read or seen so far has given me unusual cause for concern about the vaccine, but I am interested in a possible ‘side effect’ of the release of this vaccine that we may not have discussed so far.
Although people are being advised to continue to maintain social distancing, stay home, and wear masks even after vaccination, I have noticed that many people have become even more anxious about when they will get the COVID-19 vaccine.
It reminds me of the panic-buying that happened before the first lockdown when there was a shortage of toilet rolls and flour! When we were all staying home and taking precautions to avoid a virus we had no cure or vaccine for, people felt we were all in the same boat and worried for each other.
Now it seems that some new anxiety and even anger is creeping in, as certain groups feel let down because they have not been prioritised to receive this vaccine, even as key-workers. Even though no vaccine is 100% effective, the feeling that others are getting a vaccine advantage over them in a pandemic that has affected us all is making some people even more fearful than they were last year.
I have had patients sounding very upset on phone consultations that they have not yet been called to receive the vaccine in spite of their risky jobs or medical conditions, which they are supposed to be shielding for anyway.
Well-meaning people sharing photos of their COVID-19 vaccination cards on social media to raise awareness possibly add to this anxiety because others (who desperately want it) feel even more vulnerable and disadvantaged knowing that others have had the vaccine already.
There is still a lot to learn about these new vaccines and some people (including professionals) have not yet made up their minds about whether to personally have the recommended COVID-19 vaccine. I can imagine that being bombarded with photos and news of who has or has not had the vaccine has not been helpful for their own mental health either.
… the real impact of this pandemic is yet to be fully seen. For now, we can choose to be grateful that there are effective vaccines …
There will be days when people read about coronavirus death rates and want to take the vaccine quickly to reduce their risk of infection, stop wasting their privilege of being offered one, and live longer for their families; and there will be other days when they feel that taking the vaccine will just be ‘following the crowd’ against their own personal convictions and understanding of the available data.
There will also be people offered the vaccines who have needle phobia or other conditions that make it a more complicated decision for them. Such internal conflict can be stressful, especially when also dealing with ill COVID-19 patients, the practicalities of lockdown living, winter pressures at work, and supporting others with more serious problems.
There is also the anxiety and guilt that some people experience around having the vaccine while worrying about others in their families or social circles whom they feel deserve to have it sooner.
School teachers, pharmacists, and supermarket workers will not be getting the vaccines for another few weeks while working in lockdown. Even the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has questioned why BAME groups have not been prioritised for the vaccines after the discovery of higher death rates from coronavirus among these groups last year.
It is understandable that resources are limited and have to be managed accordingly, but professionals also worry that patient groups who have not been properly adhering to COVID-19 social distancing rules before now might become even more nonchalant if/when they do get vaccinated.
[The] RCGP has questioned why BAME groups have not been prioritised for the vaccines after the discovery of higher death rates
Will they still wear their masks and shield as advised when they finally get their vaccines? We still do not have concrete answers for when immunity kicks in, how long it will last for, and whether the ability to transmit the virus is reduced, but we hope that as more people get vaccinated we will soon be able to have less social restrictions as a country.
These are just some questions and concerns that we may not have had without a COVID-19 vaccine, but these anxieties have been affecting the mental health and stress levels of patients and professionals this year already.
I was pleased to be able to end my book, 2020 Year of Plenty, on a good note with the news of effective vaccines for coronavirus, but the real impact of this pandemic is yet to be fully seen. For now, we can choose to be grateful that there are effective vaccines, that we can hope to get it one day if we choose to, and that this too shall pass.
I have not stated so far whether I have had the vaccine myself or not, as I do not want to add to the pressure some are feeling to get it now. I think we should make up our own minds about the vaccine personally after reading the available information, avoid scaremongering, and be sensitive when talking about this to others.
Remember that wearing masks, social distancing, and hand hygiene will continue either way, at least for the next few months, so getting the vaccine is not a reason to get complacent. Focusing on the bigger picture and obeying the rules for the sake of the most vulnerable in our communities will help us beat this pandemic sooner, and have a happier 2021.
Featured image by Evgeni Tcherkasski on Unsplash
