Medicine and Health

What causes COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy? Ignorance and the lack of bliss in the United Kingdom

J. Bullock, J. E. Lane, et al.

This study conducted by Josh Bullock, Justin E. Lane, and F. LeRon Shults explores the intriguing phenomenon of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the UK. Surprisingly, people showed more trust in fictitious vaccines linked to US government programs than in real ones from Russia and China. The key factor driving hesitancy appears to be anxiety, rather than familiarity with vaccines.

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~3 min • Beginner • English

Index

Abstract

Understanding vaccine hesitancy has become increasingly important during the COVID-19 pandemic as governments around the globe have been struggling to convince portions of their populations to participate in vaccination protocols. Here we report on a nationally representative survey of the United Kingdom in which data revealed that individuals showed more willingness to take fictitious vaccines (putatively produced by the US government Medicare program and the now defunct healthcare company Theranos) than to take the Sputnik and Sinovac vaccines (developed by the Russian and Chinese governments respectively). The data indicate that the critical factor in vaccine hesitancy among the respondents was anxiety rather than familiarity with vaccines.

Publisher

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS

Published On

Mar 17, 2022

Authors

Josh Bullock, Justin E. Lane, F. LeRon Shults

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