Despite high numbers of daily deaths, including young patients, vaccine hesitancy in Lebanon is still strong, according to the chairman of the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Dr. Firass Abiad.
In a series of tweets, Dr. Abiad said that, in a recent survey, only 33% of responders above 65 years of age said that they want to get vaccinated against COVID-19, adding that only 4.5% of the population, which equates to nearly 300,000 citizens, have registered to get the vaccine in 10 days.
“The two clear issues that are behind this hesitancy are a general lack of trust and fear of the adverse effects from the vaccine. The vaccination drive is expected to launch in few days. Success hinges on wide public participation, a low turnout will be tragic,” the health expert added.
Dr. Abiad, who has warned about a Lebanese mutating variant to the coronavirus, went on to mention that there are some early worrying signs about the vaccination drive and time is running out.
Unless a well-organized campaign of awareness is implemented the soonest, public trust will further disintegrate, causing the whole process to derail, he explained.
The doctor stressed that the vaccine is vital as it can help in different ways, the most important of which is that the vaccine is very effective in preventing severe complications from COVID-19.
This means fewer intensive care patients and fewer deaths, relieving the overwhelmed health care system in the process.
The country is getting ready to launch its COVID-19 inoculation campaign on Sunday, a day after the expected arrival of the first Pfizer jabs. People have started registering on the online vaccine platform, and a hotline for that purpose is ready to launch on Thursday,
To know more about the vaccine, visit: The COVID-19 Vaccine, Explained.
To register for the vaccine, apply here.
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