Dealing With Uncertainty About The Covid Vaccine As A Family Caregiver

Last fall's news about the rapid creation of several COVID vaccines was hailed in the media as a major scientific achievement and “the beginning of the end of the pandemic.”

But there is a difference between creating vaccines and vaccinating Americans. Some are unsure about the vaccines' safety and are either unwilling to get it or taking a wait-and-see approach for now. Others dislike having to get two shots, not one, and then still having to take safety measures, such as wearing a mask.

According to research conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, about a quarter of all white Americans have so-called “vaccine hesitancy.” That figure is higher for African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans, as well as those living in rural areas.

Many family caregivers, too, are uncertain or even fearful about getting the vaccine for themselves and their aging loved ones. They know that older adults are much more likely than younger people to be negatively affected by COVID-19 and want to protect them. But they also don't want to expose them to bad side-effects or outcomes and then feel guilty.

Here are some strategies caregivers can use to base this decision in logic, more than emotion:

Seek reliable information:

Not all sources of health information are equally trustworthy.

While the Mayo Clinic site encourages all Americans to get a COVID vaccine whenever it becomes available to them, it and WebMD provide balanced reports about safety and side-effects to enable readers to make their own informed decisions.

Find out about the specific risks to you and your loved one:

General information doesn't apply to everyone. Family caregivers should reach out to their own and their loved one's primary care providers to learn about how their health might be affected by a COVID vaccine. For some people with histories of severe allergic reactions, for instance, the chance of complications may be greater than for others. Providers can also explain the risks if either the caregiver or care receiver gets the shot but not the other. (Both still should follow precautions.)

Weigh risks and benefits:

All healthcare treatments have their pros and cons. Even a common aspirin, used to relieve headaches and tooth pain, can cause belly ache and bleeding. The question is always whether the potential benefits outweigh the risks. The COVID vaccine can help caregivers and their loved ones feel safer about going into public spaces and getting together with others. Or it could make them worry more about health effects they can't foresee.

Start the conversation:

Unless loved ones are unable or unwilling to weigh their own risks and benefits, they should be engaged in these considerations. Some caregivers might be surprised to discover their care receivers, after learning the pros and cons, are more eager for the vaccine than they are. These loved ones explain the risk is worth it to them to try to live as they want with the time they still have.

Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist, family therapist and a Principal for Health Management Associates. He is the author of two self-books on family caregiving and a monthly column on family caregiving for AARP.org