Covid vaccine and automobile accidents
June 17, 2026
12 min
Full
225 of 364
June 17, 2026
Covid vaccine and automobile accidents
0:00 / 12:20
Excerpt playback isn’t available for this episode — use the full-episode link.
Search the Record
Moment search isn’t open for this episode yet
When it opens, you’ll be able to type any phrase and jump straight to the second it was said.
Dr John Campbell Episodes Around June 17, 2026
Episode 225 of 364 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
12:20This episodeCovid vaccine and automobile accidents
Summary
Are people vaccinated against covid more protected from road accidents .... or not.
COVID Vaccine Hesitancy and Risk of a Traffic Crash
https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(22)00822-1/fulltext
Background
Coronavirus disease (COVID) vaccine hesitancy,
is a reflection of psychology that might also contribute to traffic safety.
So
People that take covid vaccines are the sort of people who have less traffic accidents
People who do not take covid vaccines are the sort of people who have more traffic accidents
Methods
Population-based longitudinal cohort analysis of adults
Determined COVID vaccination status from electronic medical records
Traffic crashes requiring emergency medical care
Subsequently identified accidents from all (178) hospitals
One month follow-up
Results, (2021)
N = 11,270,763
Total traffic accidents, 6,682
Unvaccinated, 16%
Vaccinated, 84%
Unvaccinated individuals
1,682 traffic crashes (25%)
Equal to a 72% increased relative
Confidence interval, (95%) 63% to 82%
(P less than 0.001)
What about
Socioeconomic status
Alcohol
Sleep apnea
Diabetes
Depression
Dementia
Hypertension
Cancer
Covid infection
Equal to a 48% increase after adjustment
Confidence interval, (95%) 40% to 57%
(P less than 0.001)
The increased risks extended across the spectrum of crash severity
Results similar for Pfizer, Moderna, or other vaccines
Conclusions
These data suggest that COVID vaccine hesitancy is associated with significant increased risks of a traffic crash.
An awareness of these risks might help to encourage more COVID vaccination.
Factors
Distrust of government
Belief in freedom
Misconceptions of everyday risks
Faith in natural protection
Antipathy toward regulation
Chronic poverty
Exposure to misinformation
Political identity
Negative past experiences
Limited health literacy
Social networks, misgivings around public health guidelines
Primary care physicians who wish to help patients avoid becoming traffic statistics,
could take the opportunity to stress standard safety reminders such as wearing a seatbelt, obeying speed limits, and never driving drunk