The COVID-19 vaccine roll-out is underway across the United States, bringing hope to many but concerns to others. The newness of the vaccine and its rapid development process, for example, leave questions for some. It’s important to note, however, that these vaccines were developed under scientific scrutiny and tested in clinical trials following U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines before public distribution. And when the vaccine is made available to the general public, the University strongly encourages participation as part of our effort to protect the health and well-being of our communities and to hopefully mitigate the longer impact of transmission.
As part of a video series where Penn State faculty experts help educate the community on the latest information related to the COVID-19 vaccine, Bernice Hausman, professor of humanities and public health sciences, explains that vaccine hesitancy is not new and we’ve seen these same concerns throughout history as new vaccines were developed. “Fortunately the slow roll out of these vaccines gives people an opportunity to observe first-hand their safety and effectiveness,” Hausman said.