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Nearly a year since the COVID-19 vaccination rollout began, about 22 percent of Americans ages 12 and older remain unvaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So what鈥檚 keeping them from getting a shot?  

Seven faculty members and a community health official explored the issue of vaccine hesitancy during College of the Pacific鈥檚 annual X-Boundaries event held virtually Nov. 3. College of the Pacific Dean Rena Fraden was the moderator.

Each panelist shared mini lectures from the viewpoint of their respective disciplines, then answered questions submitted in advance by students and alumni.

Professor of Psychology Matthew Normand says one issue is there鈥檚 no obvious improvement in personal health after someone gets vaccinated.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e relatively healthy, they get vaccinated, and they鈥檙e still relatively healthy,鈥� said Normand.

The idea of individualism in America plays a role as well, according to Associate Professor Sarah Mathis.

鈥�(It鈥檚) this idea that we are all experts in our own right, and that we as individuals should be the ones making these decisions, not health experts,鈥� Mathis said.

Mathis says the concern with people doing their own research is that it can result in confirmation bias, where people only read and listen to things that confirm what they already believe.

Professor Paul Orwin with the Department of Biological Sciences said those struggling with the question of who to trust should look at how information is being presented.

鈥淚f someone can explain to you why they are asserting something, that is a good reason to believe,鈥� said Orwin, 鈥渁nd if they can鈥檛, that is good reason to doubt.鈥�
Instructor Shahar Sansani says it鈥檚 not just about the science.  For some, it鈥檚 more about economic disparities.

鈥淧eople have a harder time making an appointment.  People have a harder time taking time off work,鈥� said Sansani.

Religion and politics are also factors, though Professor of History Jennifer Helgren says the politicization surrounding the vaccines is not new.

鈥淵es, we have a particularly divided political culture that the pandemic was layered on top of.  Yes, I think it is more partisan than vaccine hesitancy of the past, but vaccine hesitancy and politicization is not new,鈥� said Helgren, referencing events going back to the 1720s.

For Joan Singson, Director of Population Health Management for San Joaquin County, the varied perspectives illustrate the root causes of what she hears on the frontlines, summarized by what she calls the three Cs: confidence, complacency and convenience.

There are some who don鈥檛 fully understand the vaccines and their side-effects, others who feel like they鈥檙e healthy and don鈥檛 need it, and others who just don鈥檛 have the time or resources to easily get a shot.  

鈥淭heir concerns are very real,鈥� said Singson, 鈥淲e need to make sure that we鈥檙e very understanding and empathetic.鈥�

The X-Boundaries event is put on every year by College of the Pacific to explore current issues from multiple disciplines.

Past symposiums have covered topics such as terrorism, climate change and guaranteed income.