Health Beliefs about COVID-19 Vaccination in the Geriatric Population

The Health Belief Model seeks an explanation for the lack of public participation in prevention programs; and as we get older, we are more exposed to different diseases, some of which, thanks to the development of vaccination schedules, can be prevented. However, due to the increase and dissemination of false beliefs, many people are against it.

In March 2020, the WHO declares an emergency situation due to the number of COVID-19 cases, with high morbimortality rates affecting mainly the elderly, thus arising the need for a vaccine, generating beliefs towards it, either by ignorance, uncertainty and / or influence of third opinions, influencing its application.

A total of 128 people were surveyed, of whom 50% were vaccinated and 50% were not; of those not vaccinated, they did not want to be vaccinated (45.7%) because of fear of adverse effects (32.7%), because they did not trust (26.5%), and because of lack of information (38.8%). On the other hand, of those vaccinated, 71.2% felt safer, 19.7% felt the same, and 9.1% felt less safe.

The lack of information about vaccines as well as the yellowing of the adverse effects has increased the population that refuses to be vaccinated, increasing morbidity and mortality.