To Vaccinate or Not? Decision-Making in the Time of COVID-19 Vaccines. (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Groenewald, Candice
• Is Part Of: Cultural studies, critical methodologies. Volume 22:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 89
• Page End: 95
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: autoethnography -- coronavirus -- subjectivity -- qualitative -- vaccination; Culture -- Research -- Periodicals; Popular culture -- Research -- Periodicals; 306.05
• DOI: 10.1177/15327086211056575
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1532-7086

Abstract

Decision-making has become an important component of the COVID-19 pandemic. A particular decision that we are currently presented with is whether to take up COVID-19 vaccines or not. Through the lens of autoethnography, I present my personal "vaccine decision-making" process as a social scientist who, despite having mixed emotions toward COVID-19 vaccines, made the decision to get vaccinated. Recognizing the subjective nature of my narrative, autoethnography is valuable to produce knowledge that is meaningful, evocative, and relatable to different audiences. This article thus offers valuable insights into decision-making related to COVID-19 vaccine uptake, shedding light on the importance of vaccine literacy, trust, and social responsibility in this process.