Understanding Covid‐19 misinformation and vaccine hesitancy in context

Findings from a qualitative study involving citizens in Bradford, UK

Bibliographic Data

ID19507359
AuthorsBridget Lockyer (0000-0002-2195-5549, Bradford Institute for Health Research Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Bradford UK, corresponding author), Shahid Islam (0000-0002-7424-4011, Bradford Institute for Health Research Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Bradford UK), Aamnah Rahman (0000-0003-3534-6100, Bradford Institute for Health Research Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Bradford UK), Josie Dickerson (0000-0003-0121-3406, Bradford Institute for Health Research Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Bradford UK), Kate E Pickett (0000-0002-8066-8507, University of York), Kate Pickett (Department of Health Sciences University of York York UK), Tom Sheldon (0000-0002-7479-5913, Queen Mary University of London), Trevor Sheldon (Institute of Population Health Sciences Queen Mary University London London UK), John Wright (0000-0001-9572-7293, Bradford Institute for Health Research Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Bradford UK), Rosemary Mceachan (0000-0003-1302-6675, Bradford Institute for Health Research Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Bradford UK), Laura Sheard (0000-0002-9241-8361, Department of Health Sciences University of York York UK)
Year2021
Volume24
Issue4
Pages1158-1167
Publication date2021-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Expectations (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-6513 • E-ISSN: 1369-7625
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/hex.13240
PMID33942948
OpenAlexW3159617949
LanguageEN
Citations received74
References cited38

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 vaccines can offer a route out of the pandemic, yet initial research suggests that many are unwilling to be vaccinated. A rise in the spread of misinformation is thought to have played a significant role in vaccine hesitancy. To maximize uptake, it is important to understand why misinformation has been able to take hold at this time and why it may pose a more significant problem within certain contexts. OBJECTIVE: To understand people's COVID-19 beliefs, their interactions with (mis)information during COVID-19 and attitudes towards a COVID-19 vaccine. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Bradford, UK, was chosen as the study site to provide evidence to local decision makers. In-depth phone interviews were carried out with 20 people from different ethnic groups and areas of Bradford during Autumn 2020. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Participants discussed a wide range of COVID-19 misinformation they had encountered, resulting in confusion, distress and mistrust. Vaccine hesitancy could be attributed to three prominent factors: safety concerns, negative stories and personal knowledge. The more confused, distressed and mistrusting participants felt about their social worlds during the pandemic, the less positive they were about a vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy needs to be understood in the context of the relationship between the spread of misinformation and associated emotional reactions. Vaccine programmes should provide a focused, localized and empathetic response to counter misinformation. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: A rapid community and stakeholder engagement process was undertaken to identify COVID-19 priority topics important to Bradford citizens and decision makers

Disease · Disinformation · Distress · Misinformation · Pandemic · Political science · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Social media · Sociology · Thematic analysis · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Medicine · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Psychology · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy