Irene Hartmann
08/10/2021 6:01 AM
Clarín.com
Society
Updated 08/10/2021 6:01 AM
After so much rowing this pandemic, it is hard to believe but it happens: there is a segment of people who
do not want to be vaccinated
against Covid.
Not necessarily "anti-vaccine".
They are silent skeptics.
Some simply unmotivated.
Although it is a small niche, they help to make the collective blanket in front of the Delta variant, about to start circulating as a community, to be even shorter.
Argentina has a
tradition of enormous adherence to
vaccination.
Experts assure that the campaign against the coronavirus is no exception.
In fact, the data - for example, those disseminated by the Correntino senator and dedicated curve analyst
Martín Barrionuevo
- report that
87% of those over 60 received at least one dose
.
In the 50-year segment, it would reach almost 90%.
The problem is that while the global photo generates optimism, when looking at age segments, the
older the decision to vaccinate declines.
Free vaccination train stations for over 35 years in the province of Buenos Aires.
Photo Juano Tesone
This could be a problem in front of Delta, not only the next variant of Covid that would circulate in the country (the authorities assure) but the most challenging.
Due to its fluid transmissibility (more than 60% than known Covid variants), Delta requires between 80% and 90% of people with a complete vaccination scheme, provided that it seeks to avoid an increase in hospitalizations.
Records
As of press time,
13% of those over 60 had not received any dose of any vaccine
.
Data from the Federal Vaccination Registry (Nomivac) are of more concern when looking at the oldest segments.
As the calculations are based on not very firm population figures (in the absence of a population census since 2010), Barrionuevo explained to
Clarín
that "it is convenient to take the RENAPER data, which are more up-to-date than the Indec projections for 2021."
Thus, he remarked, “in those over 60 years of age, adherence to Covid vaccination reaches 87%.” Although RENAPER does not offer disaggregated population data for people
over 80 years of age
, the senator calculates that “
adherence falls to close to the 80%
. And,
in those over 90 years of age, it is below 60%
, which throws the whole average down ".
"While people 50 years and under are getting vaccinated as they are called,
older adults are those who have more doubts,
" he said.
Free vaccination in train stations in the province of Buenos Aires.
Photo Juano Tesone
The detail by
province
offers
important
contrasts
.
In Salta, for example, 78% of those over 60 received a dose.
In Chaco, less than 74%.
In Formosa, only 72.5%.
In Misiones, a meager 64.4%
.
But don't they get vaccinated because they don't want to or because they can't?
Possibilities
According to
Gabriel Battistella
, Undersecretary of Primary, Ambulatory and Community Care of the city of Buenos, although adherence in older adults is, in general, "excellent", there would be "a
skeptical niche
", for what they are calling "house to house to all unvaccinated over 60 ".
There are "about
50,000 to 60,000 people,
" Battistella estimated, although he stated that "in popular neighborhoods, the phenomenon is different."
"Many of those who are not vaccinated in the most deprived areas are
under the age of 60
, either due to lack of time, because their turn passed ... that is why an open vaccination strategy is being tested, without a turn," he reported.
Not wanting to be vaccinated is generating a small controversy.
It is worth remembering the recent case of the Corrientes forestry company that enabled a raffle for employees who had applied at least one dose, after noting that 60% had not received any.
There is also debate in the media whether restrictions should be imposed on the unvaccinated.
Or establish mandatory vaccination;
or give special permits to those vaccinated.
Or prizes.
Or discounts.
Or everything.
In this sense, the agitated expressions about the rights of all embodied in
rewards and punishments for vaccinated and unvaccinated are
not surprising
.
The Buenos Aires vaccination program at the San Lorenzo Club.
Photo Guillermo Rodriguez Adami
The issue remains
how to measure up to the epidemiological circumstance
.
The challenges are twofold: persuading those who doubt vaccines, and getting there where the system cannot penetrate, something that for Barrionuevo is very clear in the interior of several provinces.
Not being able, not wanting
For the senator, "whoever decides not to be vaccinated, accept the
cost
of having the current restrictions of the pandemic. Instead,
more freedom
could be generated
for those who were vaccinated
."
That is, “consumer discounts, for example.
Paying him would not be the best, but the State could
incentivize with a lower tax burden
”.
At the same time, he said, there is a “pending” logistics scenario: “Reaching the places we have not reached.
In my province, Corrientes, you have to go with mobile vaccinations and get into the places.
It is a
more logistical challenge, rather than one of conviction
”.
Miguel Ángel Acanfora
is a specialist in Gerontology and Geriatrics, and he joined the idea that "there are many people bedridden, locked up, not in geriatric institutions, who do not go out and are not going to be vaccinated if they are not taken by a relative."
Vaccination operation for the elderly in Catamarca.
Photo Press Provincial Government
In addition, he pointed out, there are towns in many provinces where “
if you do not take the vaccination, the person does not get vaccinated
.
Accessibility is very important: it exceeds the beliefs or the information that the person has ”.
Although he agreed that many older adults put their doubts in the foreground ("
we lived it with the flu vaccination campaign: it took years to convince people
"), Acanfora pointed out the importance of
communicating well.
“It is the explanation of the benefit.
If someone over 80 years of age is infected, they have an 80% chance of dying and a 20% chance of surviving
.
If I put you in isolation I have to explain well why I do it.
If you do not allow yourself to be vaccinated, it is your decision.
You have to be very
direct with the message
, even if it is with a not-so-pleasant harshness, "he said.
In short, Barrionuevo concluded, “getting vaccinated is an individual decision but it impacts socially.
My position is: 'ok, getting vaccinated is your decision, but that decision affects us all' ”.
$
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