The COVID-19 disinformation divide: understanding vaccine attitudes

  • Date: 04-Feb-2021
  • Source: World Economic Forum
  • Sector:Healthcare
  • Country:Middle East
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The COVID-19 disinformation divide: understanding vaccine attitudes

Scientists have developed COVID-19 vaccines so rapidly it has exacerbated existing mistrust proliferated by social media.

New research by Edelman Data & Intelligence (DxI) aims to examine and understand the psychological motivations driving attitudes at both ends of the spectrum - from vaccine resistors to vaccine adopters.

By understanding the concerns and sensitivities of each group, the scientific community can tailor messaging to improve vaccine uptake.



The media was quick to celebrate the unprecedented speed at which the COVID-19 vaccine was developed. But at dinner tables around the world, even as deployment began, people are asking real questions and raising concerns: is it safe? Was the process rushed or politicized? What are the side effects? Will I get one and when? Which one do I want? What are the risks? They're good questions.

According to experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci, we know we need 75-90% of the US population to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, contributing to a world without COVID-19. Those figures are similar in other countries, including Singapore and the UK. But even in large economies like the US, nearly 27% of Americans report they are vaccine hesitant.



A unique feature of this pandemic has been