Vaccine hesitancy of clinicians practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) compared to those practicing conventional medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tends to prioritize inherent general immunity instead of vaccination, thereby contributing to widespread vaccine hesitancy or refusal amidst the general public. The objective of this investigation was to furnish evidence regarding the profiles and drivers of seasonal influenza vaccine hesitancy (IVH) among TCM clinicians. Between January and May 2022, the Chinese researchers conducted a nationwide survey in China with embedded an influenza vaccine hesitancy scale to 3085 registered clinicians (1013 TCM and 2072 Western medicine (WM) clinicians).

The results suggest that TCM clinicians exhibit lower possibility of influenza vaccine uptake and are less likely to recommend the immunisation to the patients. 58.3 % TCM clinicians and 52.3 % WM clinicians were categorized as being influenza vaccine hesitant. Compared to WM clinicians, TCM clinicians have lower confidence in vaccine (p < 0.001) and are less inclined to accept others’ vaccination recommendation (p < 0.001). Higher educational attainment in TCM (postgraduate: OR = 1.98, 95 %CI,1.30–3.02; doctor: OR = 2.20, 95 %CI, 1.28–3.77) and ignorance of influenza vaccination cost policy (OR = 1.76, 95 %CI, 1.18–2.63) are significantly associated with increased influenza vaccine hesitancy.

The authors concluded that the concerns and doubts towards influenza vaccine is highly prevalent in the Chinese clinicians, especially those practicing TCM. High TCM educational degrees and ignorance of influenza vaccination cost policies are two primary risk factors for developing influenza vaccine hesitancy.

The findings are, I think, far from surprising. There is plenty of evidence about the negative stance towards influenza and other vaccination that practitioners or proponents of so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) display, e.g.:

• Do views about so-called alternative medicine (SCAM), nature and god influence people’s vaccination intentions?
• Use of so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) and its association with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status
• Chiropractors Aren’t The Solution To The Primary Care Shortage: the thorny issue of vaccination
• An osteopath and anti-vaccination activist received a well-deserved and long-overdue indefinite suspension
• Prison sentence for a German HEILPRAKTIKER who issued false vaccination certificates
• Interest in so-called alternative medicine is linked to vaccination coverage
• Naturopath jailed for selling fraudulent vaccination documents
• Vaccination rates of Canadian healthcare professionals: those of chiropractors and naturopaths are at the lowest
• A Professor for Integrative and Anthroposophical Medicine claims that severe adverse effects of COVID vaccinations are 40 times more frequent than officially recognized
• Preference of so-called alternative medicine predicts negative attitudes to vaccination
• Intelligence, Religiosity, SCAM, Vaccination Hesitancy – are there links?
• A well-known opponent of vaccination has died of COVID after self-treatment with MMS
• The International Chiropractors Association’s Statement on Vaccination
• A naturopath promoting fake news about COVID vaccinations
• More information on homeopaths’ and anthroposophic doctors’ attitude towards vaccinations
• The UK Society of Homeopaths, a hub of anti-vaccination activists?
• HOMEOPATHY = “the complete alternative to vaccination” ?!?!
• Are anthroposophy-enthusiasts for or against vaccinations?
• Far too many chiropractors believe that vaccinations do not have a positive effect on public health
• Naturopaths’ counselling against vaccinations could be criminally negligent
• HOMEOPATHS AGAINST VACCINATION: “The decision to vaccinate and how you implement that decision is yours and yours alone”
• Use of alternative medicine is associated with low vaccination rates
• Integrative medicine physicians tend to harbour anti-vaccination views
• Vaccination: chiropractors “espouse views which aren’t evidence based”

With so much evidence and unquestionable serious harm being caused by these SCAM anti-vaxxers, the obvious question is this:

WHY IS SO LITTLE BEING DONE ABOUT IT?