“Wait and See” and the Free Riders

There is a category of vaccination hesitants that are not necessarily “Antivaxxers.” They are sometimes called “free riders.” These involve adults and children who understand vaccines are available and may intend to get a “shot” but decide to wait and see how the preliminary stages of inoculation “go.” They describe concerns about potential side effects. They may include never Vaxxers as a subset. It is much easier to explain that you will eventually get the vaccine, but not now rather than never. Sometimes, the decision is made by a parent or guardian concerned about their children and deciding for them.