COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: Considerations for reluctance and improving vaccine uptake

The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19) pandemic during the fall of 2019 led to the rapid development of vaccines aimed at curbing viral infection, spread, and its potential eradication. A recent trend is an overall increase in vaccine hesitancy, leading to the World Health Organization citing this as a problem which needs to be addressed. With the development and approval of vaccines for COVID-19, this trend has quickened, leading to potential negative ramifications in the ability controlling COVID-19 spread. Here we describe reported examples in overall vaccine hesitancy prior to the emergence of COVID-19, as well as summarizing recent reports on vaccine hesitancy related to COVID-19 vaccines. Gaining a better understanding of the reasons individuals have, as well as potential methods for decreasing hesitancy in the future, will hopefully lead to a greater percentage of vaccinated individuals and aid in ending the current pandemic.