Convenience, confidence and complacency: Why some formerly hesitant people are now getting vaccinated
CBC
Glen Humchitt is the first to admit he was "hesitant" to get his COVID-19 vaccine.
"I've heard about people passing away and getting really sick," said the 47-year-old carpenter. "That scared me but seeing the death rate go up again, and a lot of people getting sick made me want to get it."
Humchitt, who received his first dose of the vaccine in September, was one of dozens to line up outside Vancouver's Italian Cultural Centre to receive their shot — some six months after vaccine registrations first opened in B.C.
In August, the provincial government announced that proof of at least partial vaccination — also known as "vaccine passports" — would be required to access several non-essential settings starting Sept. 13, with proof of two doses being required by Oct. 24.
Experts say they saw an increase in first dose vaccinations following the announcement, suggesting a mandate was the right move.
Outside the vaccine clinic, however, first timers tell CBC it was not the mandate that changed their mind but a myriad of other factors, including the rising death toll of the Delta variant, the advice of their personal care providers, and increasingly expedited wait-times for vaccinations.
For better or worse, there's also the influence of anecdotal information, as unvaccinated people continue to account for an overwhelming majority of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations.
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