An analysis of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and fear mongering on Twitter

Jemielniak, Dariusz; Krempovych, Y.

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2021.08.019

Cited by 63 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…When assessing differences between groups on the intention items, hesitancy for either the AstraZeneca vaccine or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was found to account for significant differences in the total VH score. This effect was expected due to the media coverage about the negative side effects of the latter two vaccines [ 65 , 66 ]. Pfizer emerged as the vaccine that people were the least hesitant about, which was also possibly caused by its positive media coverage compared to the AstraZeneca vaccine [ 67 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: The Role of Information Sources and Beliefs in Dutch Adults

Vries

Verputten

Preissner

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy may be regarded as a new pandemic hindering the elimination of or coping with COVID-19. This study assessed reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy using the I-Change Model (ICM) by considering the role of informational and psychosocial factors. A cross-sectional online survey using a convenience sample was conducted among Dutch adults (n = 240). The questionnaire assessed information factors, predisposing factors, awareness factors, motivational factors, preparatory actions, and vaccination intention. Vaccine hesitant participants (n = 58, 24%) had lower levels of education, more often paid work, and tended to have a religion other than Catholicism. They used written media less often and tended to visit websites of public health organizations less often, but used messaging services like WhatsApp more frequently. All participants had neutral intentions towards checking information credibility. Vaccine hesitant respondents had less knowledge about vaccination, lower perceived severity of getting sick and dying of COVID-19, and reported fewer exposures to cues about the advantages of COVID-19 vaccination. They were less convinced of the emotional and rational advantages of COVID-19 vaccination and expressed more negative feelings about it. They also reported more negative social norms concerning COVID-19 vaccination, and lower self-efficacy to get vaccinated and to cope with potential side-effects. The regression model explained 58% of the variance in vaccination intention. The results suggest that strategies are needed to: 1. Reduce fake news and stimulate information checking to foster well-informed decision-making; 2. Target both rational and emotional consequences of COVID-19, in addition to strategies for optimizing levels of knowledge. Campaigns should acknowledge the perceptions of the emotional disadvantages and increase perceptions of emotional advantages of COVID-19 vaccinations, such as reducing feelings of regret, and increasing feelings of freedom and reassurance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: The Role of Information Sources and Beliefs in Dutch Adults

Vries

Verputten

Preissner

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…So far during the pandemic, various factors have impacted whether new COVID-19 cases globally increase or decline in countries. Among these factors are infection prevention policies, mutations of the coronavirus itself, and human responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as practicing physical distancing, handwashing, mask wearing, and especially attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccines [1,2]. Although the overwhelming scientific consensus is clear regarding vaccine safety and their potential to significantly weaken the link between cases, serious illness, and death, many people choose to not be vaccinated [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19: Why Do People Refuse Vaccination? The Role of Social Identities and Conspiracy Beliefs: Evidence from Nationwide Samples of Polish Adults

et al. 2022

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In the present research, we focus on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, and empirically examine how different forms of social identity (defensive vs. secure national identity and identification with all humanity) and conspiracy beliefs are associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. In two cross-sectional nationwide surveys (Study 1, n = 432, and Study 2, n = 807), we found that willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 was negatively linked to national narcissism, but positively related to a secure national identification, that is, national identification without the narcissistic component. In both studies, we also found that the relationship between narcissistic (vs. secure) national identity and unwillingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 was mediated by COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy beliefs. These effects were present even when we accounted for basic demographics (Studies 1 and 2) and identification with all humanity (Study 2), which had been found to be a significant predictor of health behaviors during COVID-19. In line with previous research, identification with all humanity was positively associated with the willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19. We discuss the implications for understanding the role of the way in which people identify with their national and supranational groups in antiscience attitudes and (mal)adaptive behaviors during COVID-19 pandemic.

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“…Theoretically, the literature on crisis communication highlights two emotional targets of communication: Fear and hope. Multiple studies have been arguing that “fear-mongering” has been widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic 4 , 12 . At the same time, classic work in the psychology of emotions argues that hope is an important precondition for overcoming difficult situations as hope motivates people to take action towards achieving their goals 7 , 23 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Communicate hope to motivate the public during the COVID-19 pandemic

Petersen

Christiansen

Bor

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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How should health authorities communicate to motivate the public to comply with health advice during a prolonged health crisis such as a pandemic? During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, for example, people have had to comply with successive restrictions as the world faced multiple races between controlling new waves of the virus and the development and implementation of vaccines. Here, we examine how health authorities and governments most effectively motivate the public by focusing on a specific race: between the Alpha variant and the implementation of the first generation of COVID-19 vaccinations in the winter of 2021. Following prior research on crisis communication, we focus on appeals to fear and hope using communicative aids in the form of visualizations based on epidemiological modelling. Using a population-based experiment conducted in United States ($$N = 3,022$$ N = 3 , 022 ), we demonstrate that a hope-oriented visual communication aid, depicting the competing effects on the epidemic curve of (1) a more infectious variant and (2) vaccinations, motivates public action more effectively than a fear-oriented visual communication, focusing exclusively on the threat of the new variant. The importance of the implementation of such hope-oriented messages is further highlighted by cross-national representative surveys from eight countries ($$N = 3,995$$ N = 3 , 995 ), which demonstrate that feelings of fear towards the Alpha variant alone were insufficient to activate strong compliance. Overall, these findings provide general insights into the importance of hope as a health communication strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

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An analysis of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and fear mongering on Twitter

Cited by 63 publications

References 9 publications

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: The Role of Information Sources and Beliefs in Dutch Adults

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: The Role of Information Sources and Beliefs in Dutch Adults

COVID-19: Why Do People Refuse Vaccination? The Role of Social Identities and Conspiracy Beliefs: Evidence from Nationwide Samples of Polish Adults

Communicate hope to motivate the public during the COVID-19 pandemic

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