The COVID-19 pandemic has had a very large and significant impact on the world; with the largest impacts being observed in the speedy development of new technologies, and with the changing attitudes about public health and vaccines. Vaccination has become a crucial tool for slowing and preventing the transmission of viruses and protecting the public’s health, as well as for lessening symptoms (in the case of the COVID-19 vaccine).

Social media platforms have brought about change to the way that information is spread. This is seen by how quickly information about COVID-19 is being spread; social media has had a significant effect on public opinion regarding the virus’s origin, associated conspiracies, and COVID-19 vaccines. Both factual information and false information about vaccines have been provided with a place to flourish thanks to the extent of social media’s accessibility. This accessibility has challenged the conventional methods of circulating health information and created a more dynamic environment than the one that existed before the widespread and ever-growing popularity of social media.

Vaccines are recommended by almost all health professionals worldwide, only those with allergies to the ingredients or those who are immunocompromised are not recommended to be vaccinated. A high vaccination rate can create herd immunity, which benefits society, but is especially beneficial to people who cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination has time and time again proved to be a safe and reliable way to provide an individual with protection against a disease, as well as helping the community.

Herd immunity arises when a significant portion of the populace have acquired immunity to a specific illness, this happens through vaccination or when people survive an earlier infection, which leaves the relevant antibodies in their blood so that they can fight off the disease if they ever encounter it again. If a large enough portion of the population is immune, the spread of the disease is slowed down or even stopped completely, making it less likely for those who cannot get vaccinated to contract the disease. This is because the likelihood of an infected person coming into contact with a person who has the possibility of contracting the disease will decrease more and more as more people become immune. This is particularly important in the context of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, where high levels of transmission and infection can quickly overwhelm healthcare systems and lead to severe illness and death.

The eradication of smallpox, a virus that killed millions of people globally, demonstrated the significance of herd immunity. The widespread use of the smallpox vaccine led to the subsequent establishment of herd immunity. Because of this, smallpox was completely eradicated. In 1977, the final case of smallpox was reported, which was a major turning point for worldwide public health. In order to stop the spread of infectious illnesses and safeguard vulnerable populations, herd immunity must be attained.

However, misinformation and false claims about the COVID-19 vaccine have created higher rates of reluctance to get vaccinated. In the US, only 68% of people are fully vaccinated, making the US the 54th country in terms of percentage of the population who are fully vaccinated (Holder). Many people believe that this low percentage of fully vaccinated people in the US is due to misinformation spread about COVID-19. This “infodemic” (Zimmerman et al.), is likely the reason that “By the end of 2020, the self-reported likelihood of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 had declined sharply from 74 % in April to 56 % in December” (Zimmerman et al.) Misinformation in the media about the COVID-19 vaccine has been widespread, with false claims and conspiracy theories being circulated through various types of platforms that people rely on for knowledge about daily life and news, these types of platforms include social media, news websites, and even mainstream media outlets.

Social media misinformation and fake news concerning the COVID-19 vaccine have significantly lowered immunisation rates in the United States and increased vaccine hesitancy, which makes it more difficult to achieve the percentage of vaccination necessary for herd immunity. This poses a threat to public health and perhaps even prolonged the severity of the pandemic.
Social media platforms’ introduction has fundamentally altered how individuals receive and exchange information, as well as how easily it may be done. Fake news is a problem that has increased with quick content sharing and easy access to information. Many individuals now place a greater emphasis on social media than ever before; some even rely completely on it for news and information about current events. Due to people’s increasing reliance on social media and the fact that nearly anything can be posted there with little to no oversight, it has also turned into a cornucopia of fake news.

Fake news has become a significant problem on social media platforms, and one of the major consequences of the spread of the misinformation seen on social media is the low vaccine uptake in the United States.

Vaccine hesitancy is now a global public health issue, it is also becoming more and more of a problem in the United States. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s demonstration of the value of vaccinations in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, many Americans are still reluctant or downright resistant to vaccination. The spread of inaccurate information on social media platforms is one of the most frequent reasons for vaccine reluctance. Social media has been used to distribute false information about vaccines, their effectiveness, and safety, which has resulted in widespread misconceptions regarding immunisation.

One of the most common types of fake news related to vaccines is the spread of conspiracy theories. These theories claim that vaccines are part of a diabolical plot by the government or pharmaceutical companies to control or harm the population. These myths have been spread by anti-vaccination organisations and individuals, and they have gained support on social media platforms. These organisations frequently have large followings on social media and make use of their platforms to disseminate fraudulent information concerning vaccines.

The dispersion of incorrect information about vaccinations’ efficacy and safety is another prominent type of fake news in this area. This kind of false information frequently takes the shape of anecdotal reports that assert vaccines have had negative side effects or are unsuccessful at preventing disease. These kinds of accounts are frequently widely disseminated on social media, where they can be taken out of context and used to argue that vaccines are harmful or useless.

The impact of fake news on social media has significantly decreased vaccine uptake in the United States. A study by the Pew Research Center found that about a quarter of American adults believed that vaccines are unsafe, and this number was highest among younger adults who are more likely to consume news through social media (Pew Research Center). This misinformation has led to a decrease in vaccine uptake, particularly among children, and has contributed to the reemergence of diseases like measles, which were previously under control.

The spread of fake news related to vaccines is not a new phenomenon, but social media has magnified its impact. In the past, misleading information about vaccines was typically distributed through traditional media sources, such as newspapers and television news programs. This false information was often not consumed, especially by younger generations, as they tended not to watch news regularly. However, the rise of social media platforms has enabled fake news to spread quickly and easily to a global audience. Social media algorithms often promote content that generates high levels of engagement, regardless of its authenticity. This means that fake information about vaccines can reach a larger audience. On top of this, younger generations in particular have become increasingly reliant on social media for news, especially as traditional news outlets are often being criticised or doubted due to the corporations that fund them, control them or have interest in them.

It is crucial to spread correct information regarding vaccines, their safety, and their efficacy in order to combat the problem of fake news on social media. By encouraging trustworthy sources of information and eradicating misleading information, social media platforms can play a key part in this effort. For example, Facebook has implemented efforts to stop the spread of incorrect and harmful information regarding vaccines on its site, such as depopularizing posts that do so and rejecting ads that do the same. To counteract the transmission of false information regarding vaccines on social media, more must be done.

Social media can be used by government organisations, healthcare providers, and other reliable information sources to challenge unfounded claims regarding vaccines and offer factual information. For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) both have active social media profiles that they utilise to clarify common misconceptions and give correct information regarding vaccines. Similar to this, medical professionals can interact with their patients directly through social media and give them reliable information on vaccines.

Works Cited:

Skafle, Ingjerd, et al. “Misinformation about Covid-19 Vaccines on Social Media: Rapid Review.” Journal of Medical Internet Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 4 Aug. 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9359307/.

Zimmerman, Tara, et al. “Misinformation and Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy.” Vaccine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 4 Jan. 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9659512/

Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 14 Mar. 2023, https://www.pewresearch.org/.

Author(s):

Emma Somers