MelroseWakefield Finding Vaccine-Hesitancy To Be A Roadblock

MELROSE, MA — As the state and federal government enter a new phase of vaccinations — one in which supply appears to be outpacing demand — healthcare workers are doubling their efforts to get people inoculated against the coronavirus.

Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday roughly 70 percent of the eligible population has received at least one dose, but as demand for the vaccine dwindles, the state is pivoting toward a more locally focused effort. Now appointments that seemed impossible to get a couple months ago are available simply by walking up to a CVS or mass vaccination site.

People can also go to hospitals, which have more available appointments than they've anticipated having. The hospitals have the vaccine, now they just need the arms.

Dr. Steven Sbardella, the chief doctor at MelroseWakefield Hospital, told Patch Wednesday he hopes people get past their hesitations.

"They've got valid reasons to be hesitent in their own thought process," Sbardella said. "It really does take a one-on-one conversation. Maybe just one-on-one with a friend or acquaintaince who has been vaccinated. I think there's a fear — and you have to get over that by talking to enough people who have been vaccinated."

(You can schedule a vaccination appointment at MelroseWakefield Hospital here.)

The majority of the elderly have been fully vaccinated, but it's the younger, healthier population that appear to be lagging behind. Sbardella said those people, too, need to be vaccinated too — because anyone can carry the contagious virus.

"The current demographic showing up in the hospital are younger and younger people," he said. "That's the group we're worried about because they're very mobile and relational and social."

They may only get more so as coronavirus restrictions drop. Baker last week ended the state's outdoor mask mandate and laid out a reopening timeline that would have all businesses fully open by August.

"As the state and the country start relaxing some of the previous mitigation restrictions we are all going to find ourselves more and more likely to be in a situation around people who don't have masks on and with groups of people as we enter into what we used to call normal life," Sbardella said.

But Sbardella said we still haven't reached herd immunity — he cites the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in saying that's something like more than 70 percent of people being fully vaccinated — so the risk for contracting or spreading the virus can increase.

"We can only know our own vaccination status," he said. "All you can do is vaccinate yourself and be confident in your own status."

Sbardella also addressed other concerns that might be keeping people from being vaccinated.

He said the most recent studies show it is safe for pregnant women to get inoculated (though he suggests they talk to their doctor.) He also said he can understand why people might be hesitant to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine following a pause, but said the science shows it should be considered alongside Moderna and Pfizer.

He also said people who have already had the virus should still get the shot.

"If you've had the virus, then your body has built up antibodies and some degree of immunity, but no one really knows how long that immunity will last at full efficiency," he said. "Even if you've had COVID, you should receive the full vaccination series."

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi.