The Prevalence, Features, Influencing Factors, and Solutions for COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation: Systematic Review

Abstract

Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, infodemic spread even more rapidly than the pandemic itself. The COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has been prevalent worldwide and hindered pandemic exiting strategies. Misinformation around COVID-19 vaccines is a vital contributor to vaccine hesitancy. However, no evidence systematically summarized COVID-19 vaccine misinformation. Objective This review aims to synthesize the global evidence on misinformation related to COVID-19 vaccines, including its prevalence, features, influencing factors, impacts, and solutions for combating misinformation. Methods We performed a systematic review by searching 5 peer-reviewed databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO). We included original articles that investigated misinformation related to COVID-19 vaccines and were published in English from January 1, 2020, to August 18, 2022. We excluded publications that did not cover or focus on COVID-19 vaccine misinformation. The Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies, version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2), and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Checklist were used to assess the study quality. The review was guided by PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021288929). Results Of the 8864 studies identified, 91 observational studies and 11 interventional studies met the inclusion criteria. Misinformation around COVID-19 vaccines covered conspiracy, concerns on vaccine safety and efficacy, no need for vaccines, morality, liberty, and humor. Conspiracy and safety concerns were the most prevalent misinformation. There was a great variation in misinformation prevalence, noted among 2.5%-55.4% in the general population and 6.0%-96.7% in the antivaccine/vaccine hesitant groups from survey-based studies, and in 0.1%-41.3% on general online data and 0.5%-56% on antivaccine/vaccine hesitant data from internet-based studies. Younger age, lower education and economic status, right-wing and conservative ideology, and having psychological problems enhanced beliefs in misinformation. The content, format, and source of misinformation influenced its spread. A 5-step framework was proposed to address vaccine-related misinformation, including identifying misinformation, regulating producers and distributors, cutting production and distribution, supporting target audiences, and disseminating trustworthy information. The debunking messages/videos were found to be effective in several experimental studies. Conclusions Our review provides comprehensive and up-to-date evidence on COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and helps responses to vaccine infodemic in future pandemics. Trial Registration PROSPERO CRD42021288929; https://tinyurl.com/2prejtfa

Spillover of Vaccine Hesitancy into Adult COVID-19 and Influenza: The Role of Race, Religion, and Political Affiliation in the United States

“…For instance, they may have concerns about whether a specific, recently introduced vaccination lowers the risk of infection while still believing that tested vaccines are generally effective. The hesitant attitudes could be explained by right-leaning media coverage of the virus and, thus, different partisan responses regarding vaccines [ 32 , 33 ]. During the start of the pandemic, denial and misinformation about the coronavirus erupted on right-leaning media sources.…”

“…Political affiliation has also been shown to play a significant role in vaccine decision making. This relationship may be due to shifts in the social norms regarding vaccines among right-wing communities and news media [ 32 , 33 ]. A KFF survey showed that political affiliation was a stronger predictor at the start of the pandemic in terms of mask wearing, social distancing, and receiving vaccines.…”

Willingness to Vaccinate Against Herpes Zoster and Its Associated Factors Across WHO Regions: Global Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Additionally, some associated factors might not be reported, because the included studies did not explore them. For example, vaccination policy and smoking habits were determined to be associated with influenza vaccination willingness [53,54]; trust in the government and information exposure were associated with the COVID-19 vaccine [28,55]. These could be explored in future research.…”

Lessons from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in schizophrenia: a review

“…Unwillingness to vaccine has been associated with greater psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia: symptomatic patients with schizophrenia frequently are suspicious of the Government for wanting to vaccinate people and develop paranoid delusions around the vaccination itself and the process [55][56][57]. However, this suspicion was not limited to patients with psychotic disorders and younger age, lower education and economic status, right-wing and conservative ideology have been associated with increased belief in misinformation [58]. COVID-19 vaccination is associated with slight deterioration of the schizophrenia symptoms of elderly hospitalized patients [55].…”