Understanding Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Ethnic Minorities Groups in the UK

Bibliographic Data

ID22079296
AuthorsMaryam Naqvi (University College London), Lan Li (0000-0002-0408-8615, Systemic Risk Centre, corresponding author), Michael Woodrow (0000-0001-7463-7192), Michael D Woodrow (University College London), Punam Yadav (0000-0002-6869-1704, Systemic Risk Centre), Patty Kostkova (0000-0002-2281-3972, Systemic Risk Centre)
Year2022
Volume10
Pages917242-917242
Publication date2022-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2022.917242
PMID35844884
OpenAlexW4283745110
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited26

COVID-19 vaccines have been developed and administered at record pace in order to curtail the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccine hesitancy has impacted uptake unequally across different groups. This study explores the drivers for vaccine hesitancy in ethnic minority groups in the UK, the impact of social media on vaccine hesitancy and how vaccine hesitancy may be overcome. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted, coded and thematically analyzed with participants from ethnic minority groups in the UK who identified as vaccine hesitant. Social media played a significant role in vaccine hesitancy. For those who considered themselves healthy, seeing misinformation of extreme side effects relating to COVID-19 vaccinations on social media resulted in the opinion that the risk of vaccination is greater than risk from COVID-19 infection. For women, misinformation on social media regarding fertility was a reason for delaying or not getting vaccinated. Participants who had sources of information they trusted in outside of social media were more likely to choose to get vaccinated. This study identified the broad spectrum of views on vaccine hesitancy in ethnic minority groups in the UK. Enabling factors such as a desire to travel, and positive public health messaging can increase vaccine uptake, whereas a lack of trusted sources of information may cause vaccine hesitancy. Further research is required to combat misinformation and conspiracy theories. Effective methods include actively responding and disproving the misinformation. For an inclusive vaccination programme that reduces health inequality, policy makers should build trust amongst marginalized communities and address their concerns through tailored public health messaging

Ethnic group · Family medicine · Misinformation · Pandemic · Political science · Public health · Public relations · Social media · Vaccination · Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection · Medicine · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Nursing · Psychology · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy · Immunology