Most people say that after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, they feel a sense of relief and hope that the pandemic is coming to an end.
But some who waited their turn and got vaccinated once they were eligible are still plagued by guilt.
"There is this phenomenon of vaccine guilt, these complex emotions that people feel related to falling short in fulfilling an obligation," explained psychiatrist Dr. Ash Nadkarni, an instructor at Harvard Medical School and the associate psychiatrist and director of wellness at Brigham & Women's Ambulatory Care Center.
She said that some people may feel that they are undeserving of getting the vaccine with so many others still waiting for their turn, even if they qualified for it.
"In part, it’s due to the fact that people have an awareness of how much suffering is going on in the world: the deaths, job loss, financial challenges and setbacks. There’s this sense of collective empathy."
Dr. Nadkarni said that it is important for people to acknowledge their feelings of guilt and then try and look at it from another perspective.
"Any time a person gets vaccinated, it actually helps people. Herd immunity is achieved when a certain percentage of the population actually becomes immunized and so if you’re getting vaccinated, you’re technically helping your buddy out too."
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