Opposing Vaccine Hesitancy During the Covid-19 Pandemic – A Critical Commentary and United Statement of an International Osteopathic Research Community
The covid-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented impact on the social, mental and physical health of the global population. It is only now, more than a year since the beginning of the pandemic, that through remarkable medical and scientific innovation there are several safe and effective vaccines for covid-19, and more are being developed. Vaccines have now been approved by regulators across the world and much hope rests on these to bring a return to a degree of pre-pandemic life, saving lives by preventing the illness in the most vulnerable and speeding up the course of the pandemic until large proportions of the population are immunised. Research has confirmed that healthcare professionals (HCPs), such as osteopaths, will make an important contribution to patients’ decision-making regarding the uptake of vaccination, and that osteopaths’ own beliefs, confidence and behaviours with respect to vaccination will influence their recommendations to others … MORE