Vaccine misinformation can be dispelled by conversation

ISLAMABAD, August 19 (online): A new study assesses the influence of anti-vaccination tweets on residents of the United States counties where they were sent.

Health professionals consider vaccines to be one of the great achievements of modern medicine. Even so, skepticism over their value and safety has always existed, dating back to the smallpox vaccines of the 1800s.

Today, many people still oppose vaccines, while anti-vaccine misinformation proliferates online.

However, a new study finds the effect of online anti-vaccine misinformation minimizes in people who talk about vaccines with friends and family.

The study looks at anti-vaccination sentiment during the 2018–2019 flu season. It explores the impact of online misinformation about vaccines and the flu, and its lasting effects.

This is particularly concerning due to the potential arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine. As Albarracín says, “What’s going to happen when we have a COVID-19 vaccine? If public health officials don’t offer clear, consistent messaging on vaccination, whatever circulates on Twitter — however crazy it is — may have an impact. We cannot trivialize it.”