Infodemic on social media and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy

Authors

  • Jeevan Bhatta ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University
  • Sakda Arj-Ong Vallibhakara Departmemt of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, BangkokThonburi University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5343-3297
  • Anil Sigdel Department of Public Health, Chitwan Medical College, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
  • Saurav Chandra Acharya Samadarshi Ministry of Social Development, Lumbini Province, Nepal
  • Tej Prasad Dulal Provincial Training Center, Bagmati Province, Nepal
  • Bishnu Pant Health Office, Baitadi, Far Western Health Directorate, Nepal
  • Sharmistha Sharma School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Canada

Keywords:

Infodemic, Social Media, COVID-19, Vaccine hesitancy, Information overload

Abstract

This study aims to understand the current COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy context and measures to overcome it. Assessing the challenge faced by campaigns against the vaccination on social media is vital, considering the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, though there has been substantial advancement in vaccines over the last century, the re-emergence of vaccine-preventable infections has prompted the World Health Organization to recognize vaccine hesitancy as a significant challenge to public health. The strategies among the general public for the hesitancy to use any vaccines for the initial period might well be fueled by health information gathered from a range of outlets, especially social media. This is a significant public health issue and may compromise people into not using the vaccines. Therefore, there is a strong need for social media to control that false plethora of information and promote the message from internationally recognized and trusted organizations and the government bodies of respective countries. This study explores infodemic in social media and its impact on utilizing the COVID-19 vaccine. This review results can benefit further public health interventions related to vaccine utilization.

Keywords: Infodemic, Social Media, COVID-19, Vaccine hesitancy, Information overload

Author Biography

Sakda Arj-Ong Vallibhakara, Departmemt of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, BangkokThonburi University

2      Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, BangkokThonburi University, Bangkok, Thailand

3      Child Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

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JMedGlob - Vol1, Issue 1

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Published

2022-05-21

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1.
Bhatta J, Vallibhakara SA-O, Sigdel A, Samadarshi SCA, Dulal TP, Pant B, Sharma S. Infodemic on social media and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. J. Med. Glob. [Internet]. 2022 May 21 [cited 2024 Dec. 22];1(1):47-53. Available from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JMedGlob/article/view/256473

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Vol. 1 No. 1 (2022): January – April 2022

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Original Article

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