Myths and Conspiracy Theories on Vaccines and COVID-19: Potential Effect on Global Vaccine Refusals

Overview

Journal Vacunas

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2021 Mar 17

PMID 33727904

Citations 114

Authors

I Ullah

K S Khan

M J Tahir

A Ahmed

H Harapan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is one of the international crises and researchers are working collaboratively to develop a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. The World Health Organization recognizes vaccine hesitancy as the world's top threat to public health safety, particularly in low middle-income countries. Vaccine hesitancy can be due to a lack of knowledge, false religious beliefs, or anti-vaccine misinformation. The current situation regarding anti-vaccine beliefs is pointing towards dreadful outcomes. It raises the concern that will people believe and accept the new COVID-19 vaccines despite all anti-vaccine movements and COVID-19-related myths and conspiracy theories. This review discusses the possible detrimental impacts of myths and conspiracy theories related to COVID-19 and vaccine on COVID-19 vaccine refusals as well as other vaccine programs.

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