Facebook Posts Big Drivers in Vaccine Resistance, Study Finds
FRIDAY, Jan. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- As Americans await their COVID-19 shot, a new study of a different vaccine shows the power of Facebook posts in fueling "anti-vax" resistance to immunization.
The study included more than 10 years of public Facebook posts on the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. It found that nearly 40% of 6,500 HPV vaccine-related posts from 2006 to 2016 amplified a perceived risk. The data suggest the posts had momentum over time.
"We should not assume that only the disease is perceived as a risk, but when research supports it, that medical treatments and interventions might unfortunately also be perceived as risks," said Monique Luisi, an assistant professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, in Columbia.
"It's more likely that people are going to see things on social media, particularly on Facebook, that are not only negative about the HPV vaccine, but will also suggest the HPV vaccine could be harmful. It amplifies the fear that people may have about the vaccine, and we see that posts that amplify fear are more likely to trend than those that don't," she said in a school news release
Luisi said the findings could shed light on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and distribution.
During the rollout, people will likely see a lot of negative information and that negative information will be what trends on social media, she said.
"If the public can anticipate this negative information, it will be interesting to see if that will make them less sensitive to the perceived risk of the vaccine," she noted.
Research must continue to address the perception of vaccine safety where the vaccine is perceived as a greater health threat than the virus or disease it prevents, Luisi added.
She said the spread of negative information about the HPV shot may lead people to have a false perception of it. Luisi recommended consulting with doctors to make an informed decision.
"People are going to see what they are going to see on social media, so it's important to not only take what you see on social media, but also talk to a doctor or health care provider," she said. "Just because it's trending doesn't mean it's true."
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can cause genital warts and cancer. A vaccine to prevent it has been available since 2006, and the CDC has more than 12 years of data showing that it is safe and effective, according to the study.
However, HPV vaccination rates across the United States still remain low.
The vaccine is recommended for boys and girls between 9 and 14 years of age, and for people up to age 26 who haven't already gotten the vaccine or finished the series of shots.
The report was published Jan. 8 in the journal Vaccine.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about HPV.
SOURCE: University of Missouri, news release, Jan. 5, 2021
Facebook Posts Big Drivers in Vaccine Resistance, Study Finds Jumatano, Januari 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) - Kama Wamarekani kusubiri COVID-19 risasi yao, utafiti mpya wa chanjo tofauti inaonyesha nguvu ya Facebook posts katika fueling "anti-vaccine" upinzani kwa chanjo. Utafiti huo ulijumuisha zaidi ya miaka 10 ya machapisho ya umma ya Facebook juu ya chanjo ya virusi vya HPV. Takriban asilimia 40 ya machapisho 6,500 yaliyohusiana na chanjo ya HPV kutoka 2006 hadi 2016 yaliongeza hatari inayotambuliwa. Takwimu zinaonyesha kwamba machapisho hayo yalikuwa na mwendo kwa muda. "Hatupaswi kudhani kwamba ugonjwa tu unaonekana kama hatari, lakini wakati utafiti unaunga mkono, matibabu na uingiliaji wa matibabu kwa bahati mbaya pia unaweza kuonekana kama hatari, ""Monique Luisi, profesa msaidizi katika Chuo Kikuu cha Missouri Shule ya Uandishi wa Habari, alisema." "Hata hivyo, kuna uwezekano mkubwa kwamba watu watapata mambo kwenye mitandao ya kijamii, hasa Facebook, ambayo sio tu ni hasi kuhusu chanjo ya HPV, lakini pia itasema chanjo ya HPV inaweza kuwa na madhara.""" "Hii inaongeza hofu ambayo watu wanaweza kuwa nayo juu ya chanjo, na tunaona kwamba machapisho ambayo yanaongeza hofu yana uwezekano mkubwa wa kuwa mwenendo kuliko wale ambao hawafanyi hivyo, ""Alisema katika taarifa ya habari ya shule, Luiz alisema matokeo yanaweza kutoa mwangaza juu ya kuzindua na usambazaji wa chanjo ya COVID-19." """Wakati wa uzinduzi, watu watapata habari nyingi hasi na habari hiyo mbaya itakuwa ni nini mwenendo kwenye mitandao ya kijamii,"" alisema." "Ikiwa umma unaweza kutarajia habari hii hasi, itakuwa ya kuvutia kuona ikiwa hiyo itawafanya wawe na hisia kidogo kwa hatari inayotambuliwa ya chanjo, ""alibainisha." "Utafiti lazima uendelee kushughulikia maoni ya usalama wa chanjo ambapo chanjo inachukuliwa kama tishio kubwa la afya kuliko virusi au ugonjwa unaozuiwa, ""aliongeza Luiz." "Mwanamke huyo alisema kuwa ""kuenea kwa habari hasi kuhusu chanjo ya HPV kunaweza kuwafanya watu wawe na maoni bandia juu ya chanjo hiyo.""" Luisi alipendekeza kwamba awasiliane na madaktari ili wafanye uamuzi wenye kueleweka. """Watu wataona kile watakachokiona kwenye mitandao ya kijamii, kwa hivyo ni muhimu sio tu kuchukua kile unachokiona kwenye mitandao ya kijamii, lakini pia kuzungumza na daktari au mtoa huduma ya afya,"" alisema." "Kwenye mitindo haimaanishi ni kweli". Ugonjwa wa HPV ni ugonjwa wa kawaida unaopitishwa kwa njia ya ngono nchini Marekani, kulingana na Kituo cha Marekani cha Kudhibiti na Kuzuia Magonjwa. Inaweza kusababisha viwiko vya viungo vya uzazi na kansa. Chanjo ya kuzuia ugonjwa huo imepatikana tangu mwaka 2006, na CDC ina zaidi ya miaka 12 ya data inayoonyesha kuwa ni salama na yenye ufanisi. Hata hivyo, viwango vya chanjo ya HPV kotekote Marekani bado ni vya chini. Chanjo hiyo inashauriwa kwa wavulana na wasichana wenye umri wa miaka 9 hadi 14, na kwa watu wenye umri wa miaka 26 na chini ambao bado hawajapata chanjo au kumaliza mfululizo wa risasi. Utafiti huo ulichapishwa Januari 8 katika jarida la Vaccine. Kituo cha Marekani cha Kudhibiti na Kuzuia Magonjwa (CDC) kina taarifa zaidi kuhusu HPV. "Mwanzoni mwa wiki hii, Chuo Kikuu cha Missouri kilitoa taarifa ya habari ya ""Ulimwengu wa Uongofu"" mnamo Januari 5, 2021."