Thousands regret COVID-19 vaccine, citing health concerns and pressure
Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, thousands of Dutch citizens report regretting their decision to get vaccinated. Surveys conducted by Panel Inzicht and media outlets affiliated with AD reveal that a small but significant portion of the population believes they were misled, pressured, or experienced adverse effects from the vaccine.
Two months after receiving his second AstraZeneca dose, Martin van Nispen contracted COVID-19. "It felt like a severe flu, but I clearly wasn’t protected. In hindsight, I regret exposing myself to an experimental vaccine under false pretenses," he said.
Wim van de Laar from Panningen echoed similar sentiments. "I got vaccinated because my household was extremely stressed about the pandemic. But I don’t think I’d do it again. I prefer to let my body handle it naturally."
Others reported more severe health complications. "Immediately after vaccination, I developed physical issues that led to hospitalization. I’m still undergoing treatment. Multiple doctors have said the vaccine had a negative impact on me," said one respondent.
Another participant stated, "I regret allowing the government to coerce me into taking these shots despite my deep mistrust in their effectiveness."
Survey findings
Panel Inzicht’s survey of 1,000 Dutch citizens found that approximately 3 percent regretted receiving one or more COVID-19 vaccinations. A larger online poll, which attracted responses from 6,000 people across AD and regional news websites, reported a higher percentage of respondents expressing "prikspijt"—the Dutch term for vaccine regret. However, the surveys also indicate that the vast majority of the population remains supportive of vaccination.
Many respondents cited health concerns as the reason for their regret. Others pointed to social or governmental pressure, particularly during the implementation of the "3G" policy, which restricted access to events and venues for those who were not vaccinated, tested, or recovered from COVID-19.
The term "prikspijt" was named the 2021 Word of the Year by Van Dale’s dictionary, largely due to its widespread use among vaccine skeptics and conspiracy theorists. At the time, Van Dale noted that the term had been amplified by groups opposing COVID-19 vaccines, including those suspicious of pharmaceutical companies, advocates of natural healing, and conspiracy theorists who falsely claimed the vaccine contained microchips.
Despite the online fervor surrounding vaccine regret, scientific studies indicate that serious vaccine side effects remain rare. Research analyzing 99 million vaccinated individuals worldwide found that only a small fraction experienced severe reactions such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, heart inflammation, or blood clotting disorders. Health experts emphasize that while side effects do occur, the number of lives saved by vaccines far outweighs the risks.
Nevertheless, many remain unconvinced. "I’ve had three COVID-19 shots and now suffer from hearing loss, nerve pain, and worsened tinnitus. The right side of my face is constantly in pain. My ENT specialist confirmed these symptoms," said Monique, who declined to share her last name.
Emotional and psychological factors
Paul van Lange, a psychology professor at the University of Amsterdam, noted that regret is a common emotional response. "There was government pressure to get vaccinated, but ultimately, it was a voluntary decision. People often regret choices they later feel were not fully informed or were made under social influence."
He also highlighted that perceptions of vaccine regret are complex. "Many classify any dissatisfaction with their decision as regret. This could be due to actual vaccine side effects, but also the feeling of being misled or coerced."
Vaccine skepticism appears to be growing, with potential implications for future public health initiatives. "I regret listening to people who didn’t provide honest information. We were given incomplete details, with a strong push to vaccinate," said one survey participant.
Van Nispen added, "I now have a healthy dose of skepticism about government vaccination programs, especially vaccines developed in record time. I likely won’t participate in another large-scale vaccination campaign. My trust has been broken."
