Vaccine misinformation

Misinformation related to immunization and the use of vaccines circulates in mass media and social media[1][2][3] in spite of the fact that there is no serious hesitancy or debate within mainstream medical and scientific circles about the benefits of vaccination.[4] Unsubstantiated safety concerns related to vaccines are often presented on the internet as being scientific information.[5] A large proportion of internet sources on the topic are mostly inaccurate which can lead people searching for information to form misconceptions relating to vaccines.[6]

Although opposition to vaccination has existed for centuries, the internet and social media have recently facilitated the spread of vaccine-related misinformation.[7] Intentional spreading of false information and conspiracy theories have been propagated by the general public and celebrities.[8] Active disinformation campaigns by foreign actors are related to increases in negative discussions online and decreases in vaccination use over time.[9]

Misinformation related to vaccination leads to vaccine hesitancy which fuels disease outbreaks.[9] As of 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy was considered one of the top ten threats to global health by the World Health Organization.[1][10]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Geoghegan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Misinformation about the vaccine could be worse than disinformation about the elections". POLITICO. 21 December 2020. Archived from the original on 7 February 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  3. ^ Zadrozny, Brandy (30 November 2020). "Covid-19 vaccines face a varied and powerful misinformation movement online". NBC News. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  4. ^ Dubé, Ève; Ward, Jeremy K.; Verger, Pierre; MacDonald, Noni E. (1 April 2021). "Vaccine Hesitancy, Acceptance, and Anti-Vaccination: Trends and Future Prospects for Public Health". Annual Review of Public Health. 42 (1): 175–191. doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-090419-102240. ISSN 0163-7525. PMID 33798403. S2CID 232774243. the scientific and medical consensus on the benefits of vaccination is clear and unambiguous
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Loomba was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Kortum, Philip; Edwards, Christine; Richards-Kortum, Rebecca (30 June 2008). "The Impact of Inaccurate Internet Health Information in a Secondary School Learning Environment". Journal of Medical Internet Research. 10 (2): e986. doi:10.2196/jmir.986. PMC 2483927. PMID 18653441.
  7. ^ Hoffman, Beth L.; Felter, Elizabeth M.; Chu, Kar-Hai; Shensa, Ariel; Hermann, Chad; Wolynn, Todd; Williams, Daria; Primack, Brian A. (10 April 2019). "It's not all about autism: The emerging landscape of anti-vaccination sentiment on Facebook". Vaccine. 37 (16): 2216–2223. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.03.003. PMID 30905530. S2CID 85502265. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  8. ^ Gillmor, Dan; Corman, Steven; Simeone, Michael (July 11, 2021). "The Power of Local Celebrities in the Fight against Vaccine Hesitancy". Scientific American. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  9. ^ a b Wiysonge, Charles Shey; Wilson, Steven Lloyd (3 December 2020). "Misinformation on social media fuels vaccine hesitancy: a global study shows the link". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Ten health issues WHO will tackle this year". World Health Organization. Retrieved 6 January 2023.