False side effects among concerns of vaccine hesitant Americans; state vax rates reflect political divide

Vaccine-hesitant Americans list false side effects among concerns: Coronavirus vaccine-hesitant Americans list multiple false or undocumented side effects — such as DNA alteration — among their reasons for not getting the shot, according to a recent Harris poll Olafimihan Oshin TheHill

Coronavirus vaccine-hesitant Americans list multiple false or undocumented side effects — such as DNA alteration — among their reasons for not getting the shot, according to a recent Harris poll reported by Axios on Monday.

Among the 1,061 people in the survey who say they are unlikely to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and listed side effects as a concern, 60 percent named blood clots, which have indeed been reported in extremely rare cases. But 24 percent listed infertility, and just as many cited potential birth defects, which are not considered possible from any of the vaccines that have been approved. 

Twenty-two percent said they were concerned about potentially getting cancer from their coronavirus vaccine, another false side effect.

Approximately 65 percent of baby boomers and half of Generation Z respondents said they were concerned about potential flu-like symptoms, which are possible after the shots. 

Polling results are based on interviews conducted on April 23 to 25 and May 7 to 9. A margin of error was not listed.

ALSO SEE: State vaccine rates fall along red, blue divide