Trust in government, social media and willingness to vaccinate

Nicky Nicholls · Michelle Pleace · Eleni Abraham Yitbarek

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Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy Misinformation and Its Impacts Risk Perception and Management

Abstract

Vaccine hesitancy is considered one of the biggest global health threats. The prevalence of false information about vaccines on social media amplifies this challenge, making it more urgent. This study examines the relationship between social media use, trust in information sources, beliefs about vaccination rates, and willingness to adopt vaccines using data gathered in late 2023 from 975 respondents in South Africa. Our results suggest that people who rely on social media as their primary news source are more hesitant to get vaccinated for themselves and their children. Trust, which includes various sources including confidence in the government, is positively linked to vaccination decisions. Trust is especially important when it comes to less traditional vaccines such as COVID-19 and flu vaccines for both adults and children. We also note gender differences, with South African men showing more reluctance to get vaccinated as adults. Additionally, there is a negative correlation between social media use and the willingness of males to get vaccinated, but this relationship is not evident among females. Our research highlights the need for targeted interventions aimed at improving vaccine uptake, taking into account the links with information sources about vaccination and government trust. • We examine predictors of vaccine hesitancy for a range of vaccines. • Reliance on social media as primary news source was associated with greater hesitancy. • Trust in government was associated with greater likelihood of vaccination. • The role of trust is particularly important in less traditional vaccines (COVID-19 and flu). • South African men showed greater hesitancy than women, particularly with social media.

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1993Making democracy work: civic traditions in modern Italy 2021Vaccine hesitancy in the era of COVID-19 2018Beyond confidence: Development of a measure assessing the 5C psychological antecedents of vaccination 2016The State of Vaccine Confidence 2016: Global Insights Through a 67-Country Survey 2021COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in low- and middle-income countries 2018Measuring trust in vaccination: A systematic review 2021Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy 2021Lack of Trust, Conspiracy Beliefs, and Social Media Use Predict COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy

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