Online misinformation is linked to COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and refusal (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Pierri ◽  
Brea Perry ◽  
Matthew DeVerna ◽  
Kai-Cheng Yang ◽  
Alessandro Flammini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Causality Analysis ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Uptake Rates ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Widespread uptake of vaccines is necessary to achieve herd immunity. However, uptake rates varied across U.S. states during the first six months of the COVID-19 vaccination program. Online misinformation may play an important role in vaccine hesitancy, and there is a need to comprehensively quantify the impact of misinformation on beliefs, behaviors, and health outcomes. OBJECTIVE This work investigates the extent to which COVID-19 vaccination rates and vaccine hesitancy are associated with levels of online misinformation about vaccines across geographical regions. We also look for evidence of directionality from online misinformation to vaccine hesitancy. METHODS Vaccine uptake recordings were taken from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data over the week of March 19 to 25, 2021. Vaccine hesitancy data and misinformation data were taken over the period, Jan 4th to March 25th, 2021. We leverage over 22 M individual responses to surveys administered on Facebook to assess vaccine hesitancy rates, and we identify online misinformation by focusing on low-credibility sources shared on Twitter by over 1.67M users geolocated within U.S. regions. Statistical analysis was done using multivariate regression models adjusting for socioeconomic, demographic and political confounding factors. RESULTS We find a negative relationship between misinformation and vaccination uptake rates. Online misinformation is also correlated with vaccine hesitancy rates taken from survey data. Associations between vaccine outcomes and misinformation remain significant when accounting for political as well as demographic and socioeconomic factors. While vaccine hesitancy is strongly associated with Republican vote share, we observe that the effect of online misinformation on hesitancy is strongest across Democratic rather than Republican counties. Granger causality analysis shows evidence for a directional relationship from online misinformation to vaccine hesitancy. CONCLUSIONS These results indicated that there are geographically located hotspots of vaccine refusal which are associated with online misinformation and unexplained by other factors. Our results support a need for interventions that address online misinformation, allowing individuals to make better-informed health decisions. COVID-19 | Facebook | misinformation | Twitter | vaccine hesitancy | vaccines

scholarly journals Changing the Narrative: Structural Barriers and Racial and Ethnic Inequities in COVID-19 Vaccination

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (18) ◽  
pp. 9904
Author(s):  
Anuli Njoku ◽  
Marcelin Joseph ◽  
Rochelle Felix
Keyword(s):  
Minority Groups ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Structural Barriers ◽  
Structural Racism ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Promising Solution ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States. Although a promising solution of the COVID-19 vaccination offers hope, disparities in access again threaten the health of these communities. Various explanations have arisen for the cause of disparate vaccination rates among racial and ethnic minorities, including discussion of vaccine hesitancy. Conversely, the role of vaccine accessibility rooted in structural racism as a driver in these disparities should be further explored. This paper discusses the impact of structural barriers on racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake. We also recommend public health, health system, and community-engaged approaches to reduce racial disparities in COVID-19 disease and mortality.

scholarly journals COVID 19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Okechukwu Nna ◽  
Michael Abel Alao ◽  
Babatunde Ogunbosi ◽  
Uchenna Okeke ◽  
Canice Anyachukwu
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Quality Assessment ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Geographical Regions

Abstract Background The unprecedented development of COVID 19 vaccine within a few months and its introduction into the population brought a sigh of relief with the promise of preventing primary infections, halting spread, reducing hospitalization of infected people, and ultimately inducing herd immunity. However, public perception in many communities leaves a lot to worry about as the so much sort-after vaccine has been met with safety concerns, scepticism and hesitancy. We seek to produce a protocol for a reliable and accurate systematic review and meta-analysis on the hesitancy of COVID 19 vaccine uptake in the mist of a global pandemic.MethodsWe developed a search strategy using MeSH terms, text words and entry terms. Nine databases will be searched: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, AJOL, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Research gate and Scopus. Only observational studies retrievable in the English Language will be included. The primary measurable outcome is the prevalence of COVID 19 vaccine hesitancy globally. The secondary outcomes are factors that influence COVID 19 vaccine hesitancy including race, age, gender, occupation, socioeconomic class, level of education, geographic location, misinformation, social media influence and vaccine safety. Identified studies will be screened, deduplicated, selected and data items extracted using DistillerSR software. All studies will be assessed for methodological, clinical and statistical heterogeneity. Assessment of risk of bias in the selected studies will be performed using the NIH Quality assessment tool for observational studies and the Cochrane tool of risk of bias. Publication bias will be assessed using the funnel plot as well as Egger’s regression intercept. The pooled prevalence, standard error and 95% CI will be reported. The strength of evidence from this analysis will be assessed by using NIH Quality Assessment for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis.DiscussionThe outcome of this analysis will give insight into the level of COVID 19 vaccine hesitancy and its correlates across geographical regions globally. It will examine if herd immunity via vaccination is attainable at the pooled rate of hesitancy. This will help Governments to redesign their public messages and sensitization. Systematic Review RegistrationThis protocol has been registered with PROSPERO, registration number CRD42021231165.

scholarly journals Information about herd immunity and empathy promote COVID-19 vaccination intentions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Pfattheicher ◽  
Michael Bang Petersen ◽  
Robert Böhm
Keyword(s):  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
High Uptake ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
Uptake Rates ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Affective Information

Objective: An effective vaccine against COVID-19 is a desired solution to curb the spread of the disease. However, vaccine hesitancy might hinder high uptake rates and thus undermine efforts to eliminate COVID-19 once an effective vaccine is available. The present contribution addresses this issue by examining two promising ways of increasing the intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19.Methods: We conducted two pre-registered online studies (N = 2,315 participants from the UK) in which we either measured (Study 1) or manipulated (Study 2) knowledge about and beliefs in herd immunity, as well as empathy for those most vulnerable to the virus. As a dependent variable, we assessed individuals’ self-reported vaccination intention if a vaccine against COVID-19 became available.Results: We show that the motivation to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is related to and causally promoted by both mere information about herd immunity and by empathy. Thus, interventions that combine cognitive and affective information related to others’ potential suffering appear most effective in increasing the intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19.Conclusions: The present research provides a better understanding of the intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and highlights two evidence-based possibilities for policymakers in promoting vaccine uptake.

scholarly journals COVID-19 infection and vaccination rates in healthcare workers in British Columbia, Canada: A Longitudinal Urban versus Rural Analysis of the Impact of the Vaccine Mandate

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annalee Yassi ◽  
Stephen Barker ◽  
Karen Lockhart ◽  
Deanne Taylor ◽  
Devin Harris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Urban Versus

Purpose: Healthcare workers (HCWs) play a critical role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Early in the pandemic, urban centres were hit hardest globally; rural areas gradually became more impacted. We compared COVID-19 infection and vaccine uptake in HCWs living in urban versus rural locations within, and between, two health authorities in British Columbia (BC), Canada. We also analyzed the impact of a vaccine mandate for HCWs. Methods: We tracked laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections, positivity rates, and vaccine uptake in 29,021 HCWs in Interior Health (IH) and 24,634 HCWs in Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), by occupation, age, and home location, comparing to the general population in that region. We then evaluated the impact of infection rates as well as the mandate on vaccination uptake. Results: By October 27, 2021, the date that unvaccinated HCWs were prohibited from providing healthcare, only 1.6% in VCH yet 6.5% in IH remained unvaccinated. Rural workers in both areas had significantly higher unvaccinated rates compared with urban dwellers. Over 1,800 workers, comprising 6.4% of rural HCWs and 3.3% of urban HCWs, remained unvaccinated and set to be terminated from their employment. While the mandate prompted a significant increase in second doses, the impact on the unvaccinated was less clear. Conclusions: As rural areas often suffer from under-staffing, loss of HCWs could have serious impacts on healthcare provision as well as on the livelihoods of unvaccinated HCWs. Greater efforts are needed to understand how to better address the drivers of rural-related vaccine hesitancy as the pandemic continues.

scholarly journals Factors That Influence Risk Perceptions and Successful COVID-19 Vaccination Communication Campaigns With American Indians

2021 ◽  
pp. 107554702110569
Author(s):  
Amanda D. Boyd ◽  
Dedra Buchwald
Keyword(s):  
American Indians ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Culturally Congruent ◽  
Communication Campaigns ◽  
The Impact

COVID-19 vaccinations are the primary tool to end the pandemic. However, vaccine hesitancy continues to be a barrier to herd-immunity in the United States. American Indians (AI) often have higher levels of distrust in western medicine and lower levels of satisfaction with health care when compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Yet AIs have high COVID-19 vaccination rates. We discuss factors that influence AI risk perceptions of COVID-19 vaccinations including the impact of COVID-19 on AI Elders, community, and culture. We conclude with future research needs on vaccination communication and how culturally congruent communication campaigns may have contributed to high COVID-19 vaccination rates.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in India: An Exploratory Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandip K Agarwal ◽  
Maharnab Naha
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
The Third ◽  
Immunization Rates ◽  
Third Phase ◽  
Uptake Rates ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Over Time

Vaccine hesitancy is context specific and varies over time and space. Therefore, strategies to tackle vaccine hesitancy based on evidence from high income countries are unlikely to serve the purpose adequately in LMICs. We use district level evidence on COVID-19 vaccine uptake rates from an LMIC - India to provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. We argue that vaccination rates during the different phases of COVID-19 vaccination across the districts is likely to be related to vaccine hesitancy. Districts with larger rural population and lower literacy rates had lower vaccination rates. High past child immunization rates were positively correlated with COVID-19 vaccination uptake. Across the four phases of vaccination drive, vaccine hesitancy was the highest during the third phase of the vaccination drive, and therefore the above correlations were strongest during the third and the fourth phase. Measures of family planning indicators too seem to be correlated with vaccine uptakes during the third phase which indicate the regions most susceptible to vaccine hesitancy.

scholarly journals The Effect of Vaccination Rates on the Infection of COVID-19 under the Vaccination Rate below the Herd Immunity Threshold

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7491
Author(s):  
Yi-Tui Chen
Keyword(s):  
Infection Rate ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vaccination Rate ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The World ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact

Although vaccination is carried out worldwide, the vaccination rate varies greatly. As of 24 May 2021, in some countries, the proportion of the population fully vaccinated against COVID-19 has exceeded 50%, but in many countries, this proportion is still very low, less than 1%. This article aims to explore the impact of vaccination on the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the herd immunity of almost all countries in the world has not been reached, several countries were selected as sample cases by employing the following criteria: more than 60 vaccine doses per 100 people and a population of more than one million people. In the end, a total of eight countries/regions were selected, including Israel, the UAE, Chile, the United Kingdom, the United States, Hungary, and Qatar. The results find that vaccination has a major impact on reducing infection rates in all countries. However, the infection rate after vaccination showed two trends. One is an inverted U-shaped trend, and the other is an L-shaped trend. For those countries with an inverted U-shaped trend, the infection rate begins to decline when the vaccination rate reaches 1.46–50.91 doses per 100 people.

Practical Approaches to Optimize Adolescent Immunization

2018 ◽  
pp. 146-165
Author(s):  
Henry H. Bernstein ◽  
Joseph A. Bocchini
Keyword(s):  
American Academy ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Clinical Report ◽  
Immunization Schedule ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Immunization Rates ◽  
Parental Concerns ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Adolescent Vaccination

With the expansion of the adolescent immunization schedule during the past decade, immunization rates notably vary by vaccine and by state. Addressing barriers to improving adolescent vaccination rates is a priority. Every visit can be viewed as an opportunity to update and complete an adolescent’s immunizations. It is essential to continue to focus and refine the appropriate techniques in approaching the adolescent patient and parent in the office setting. Health care providers must continuously strive to educate their patients and develop skills that can help parents and adolescents overcome vaccine hesitancy. Research on strategies to achieve higher vaccination rates is ongoing, and it is important to increase the knowledge and implementation of these strategies. This clinical report focuses on increasing adherence to the universally recommended vaccines in the annual adolescent immunization schedule of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This will be accomplished by (1) examining strategies that heighten confidence in immunizations and address patient and parental concerns to promote adolescent immunization and (2) exploring how best to approach the adolescent and family to improve immunization rates.

scholarly journals Improving measles vaccine uptake rates in Nigeria: An RCT evaluating the impact of incentive sizes and reminder calls on vaccine uptake

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. e0233149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Brownstone ◽  
Alison Connor ◽  
Daniel Stein
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Measles Vaccine ◽  
Uptake Rates ◽  
The Impact

Voluntary to Mandatory: Evolution of Strategies and Attitudes toward Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Personnel

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Quan ◽  
David M. Tehrani ◽  
Linda Dickey ◽  
Eugene Spiritus ◽  
Denise Hizon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Vaccination Campaign ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Vaccination Policy ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Hospital Policies ◽  
Mandatory Vaccination ◽  
Vaccination Campaigns ◽  
The Impact

Background.Assessing the relative success of serial strategies for increasing healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination rates is important to guide hospital policies to increase vaccine uptake.Objective.To evaluate serial campaigns that include a mandatory HCP vaccination policy and to describe HCP attitudes toward vaccination and reasons for declination.Design.Retrospective cohort study.Methods.We assessed the impact of serial vaccination campaigns on the proportions of HCP who received influenza vaccination during die 2006–2011 influenza seasons. In addition, declination data over these 5 seasons and a 2007 survey of HCP attitudes toward vaccination were collected.Results.HCP influenza vaccination rates increased from 44.0% (2,863 of 6,510 HCP) to 62.9% (4,037 of 6,414 HCP) after institution of mobile carts, mandatory declination, and peer-to-peer vaccination efforts. Despite maximal attempts to improve accessibility and convenience, 27.2% (66 of 243) of die surveyed HCP were unwilling to wait more than 10 minutes for a free influenza vaccination, and 23.3% (55 of 236) would be indifferent if they were unable to be vaccinated. In this context, institution of a mandatory vaccination campaign requiring unvaccinated HCP to mask during the influenza season increased rates of compliance to over 90% and markedly reduced the proportion of HCP who declined vaccination as a result of preference.Conclusions.A mandatory influenza vaccination program for HCP was essential to achieving high vaccination rates, despite years of intensive vaccination campaigns focused on increasing accessibility and convenience. Mandatory vaccination policies appear to successfully capture a large portion of HCP who are not opposed to receipt of die vaccine but who have not made vaccination a priority.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2012;33(1):63-70

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