Mistrust in health care as a potential motivator for vaccine uptake: A patient perspective

Abstract

The prevalence of conversations about trust in health care seems to have increased since the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Frequently, the discussion focuses on vaccine hesitancy among people of colour in the US and historical reasons for their mistrust in the healthcare system. The premise has been that increasing trust in health care will increase the likelihood that African Americans will take the COVID-19 vaccine. Conversely, focusing on the anxieties and realities caused by persistent disparate outcomes might offer an honest and transparent way to promote vaccine uptake, while acknowledging the systemic issues that erode trust.