Overcoming resistance to COVID-19 vaccine adoption: How affective dispositions shape views of science and medicine

• Main Authors: John E. Newhagen, Erik P. Bucy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Harvard Kennedy School 2020-10-01
• Series: Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review
• Subjects: conspiracy theories; covid-19; partisan issues; psychology; vaccines
• Online Access: https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/overcoming-resistance-to-covid-19-vaccine-adoption-how-affective-dispositions-shape-views-of-science-and-medicine/

Health experts worry that a COVID-19 vaccine boycott could inhibit reaching “herd immunity,” and their concerns have only grown as the pandemic has spread. Concern has largely focused on anti-vaccine protestors, who captured headlines as they stood side by side with Tea Party activists and armed militia groups demonstrating against the quarantine in April and May of this year. But anti-vax extremists make up only about a third of respondents in surveys who said they would not vaccinate. Health officials must also take into account a swelling group who may understand the importance of a vaccine but are hesitant and confused because they feel the vaccine’s development is being rushed and may not be safe or effective. The challenge for the public health community is complex; it has to fashion messages to a set of disparate groups, each employing a unique set of biases when processing information about the efficacy of getting a vaccination.