Vaccination against Disinformation

The purpose of this article is to examine the sociopsychological story of vaccination prophylaxis as the means of preventing the spread of dangerous diseases, preserving public health, and analyzing elements of social response to it. The attitudes of society to vaccination measures are evident at various stages of the evolution of the healthcare in various countries. The reasons for the formation of antivaccination movements and groups are examined: social, psychological, and cultural ones. The main anxieties and misconceptions of vaccination skeptics about the risks of vaccine prophylaxis are identified. Psychological and social determinants of the perception of vaccination as a threat to safety, as well as belief in myths and scientifically unfounded views, were found to be significant. Compulsory vaccination programs are discussed in terms of their legitimacy and effectiveness. To improve public understanding of the immunization and vaccine benefits, some methods are suggested as part of an integral policy and communication strategy. Highquality research data and a careful analysis of the sociodemographic and cultural features of vaccine skepticism should serve as the foundation to implement eventual initiatives.

Keywords

vaccine skepticism, vaccine prophylaxis, immunization, sociology of vaccination, psychology of vaccination, antivaccine movement, antivaccination, the right to health

Acknowledgment

The paper is prepared with support of the grant RQD2021013 “Psychic health of the bachelor students in the national Universities” (民族院校大学生心理健康教育对策研究). The authors are sincerely grateful to anonymous reviewers of the “Sociological Studies” journal for helpful productive criticism.

Received

21.01.2022

Publication date

27.01.2022

Number of characters

28215

Cite

GOST	Zihan L., X. Vaccination against Disinformation // Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya – 2022. – Issue 1 C. 134-142 [Electronic resource]. URL: http://ras.jes.su/socis/s013216250016974-4-1-en (circulation date: 23.07.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013216250016974-4
MLA	Zihan, L., , Xiao Wang "Vaccination against Disinformation." Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya 1 (2022):134-142. DOI: 10.31857/S013216250016974-4
APA	Zihan L., X. (2022). Vaccination against Disinformation. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya (1), pp.134-142 DOI: 10.31857/S013216250016974-4

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 598

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Avtonomova N.S. (1990) Myth: Chaos and Logos. In: A Deluded Mind? Diversity of Extrascientific Knowledge. Moscow: Politizdat: 30–57. (In Russ.)

2. Zhdanov V.M. (1984) Man and Viruses. In: Science and Humanity. Moscow: Znanie: 44–55. (In Russ.)

3. Zimin I. (2018) Doctors of the Court of His Imperial Majesty, or How the Royal Family was Treated. Moscow: Tsentrpoligraf. (In Russ.)

4. Ostrogorsky V., Batyushkov F. (1896) Оn the Оccasion of Centenary of Smallpox Vaccination. Mir Bozhiy [God’s World]. (In Russ.)

5. Bardenheier B., Yusuf H., Schwartz B., Gust D., Barker L., Rodewald L. (2004) Are Parental Vaccine Safety Concerns Associated with Receipt of Measlesmumpsrubella, Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids with Acellular Pertussis, or Hepatitis B Vaccines by Children? Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Vol. 158. No. 6: 569–75. DOI: 10.1001/archpedi.158.6.569.

6. Bingham A., Gaspar F., Lancaster K., Conjera J., Collymore Y., BaNguz A. (2012) Community Perceptions of Malaria and Vaccines in Two Districts of Mozambique. Malaria Journal. Vol. 11. Article no. 394. DOI: 10.1186/1475287511394.

7. Callender D. (2016) Vaccine Hesitancy: More than a Movement. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. Vol. 12. No. 9: 2464–2468. DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2016.1178434.

8. D’Errico S., Turillazi E., Zanon M. (2021) The Model of “Informed Refusal” for Vaccination: How to Fight against AntiVaccinationist Misinformation without Disregarding the Principle of SelfDetermination. Vaccines. Vol. 9. No. 2. Article no. 110. DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020110.

9. Doustmohammadi S., Cherry L.D. (2020) The Sociology of the Antivaccine Movement. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences. Vol. 4. No 2: 241–245. DOI: 10.1042/ETLS20190198.

10. Gustafson A. (2021) Why Are Some Healthcare Workers Refusing COVID Vaccines? Modern Healthcare. May 21. URL: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/labor/whyaresomehealthcareworkersrefusingcovidvaccines (accessed 12.06.2021).

11. History of AntiVaccination Movements. (2018) The History of Vaccines. January 10. URL: https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/historyantivaccinationmovements (accessed 12.06.2021). Iannelli V. (2021) History of the AntiVaccine Movement: From the 18th Century to the COVID19

12. Pandemic. Verywell Health. June 03. URL: https://www.verywellhealth.com/historyantivaccinemovement4054321 (accessed 23.07.2021). Kołłątaj B.M., Kołłątaj W.P, Karwat I.D, Sobieszczański J., Panasiuk L. (2020) AntiVaccine Movements –Health Care, Ignorance or a Diversion Aimed at Destabilizing the Health Situation? Part 2: Contemporary Conditions for the Functioning and Development of AntiVaccination Movements. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine. Vol. 27. No. 4: 553–561. DOI: 10.26444/aaem/126014.

13. Luman E.T., McCauley M.M., Stokley S., Chu S.Y., Pickering L.K. (2002) Timeliness of Childhood Immunizations. Pediatrics. Vol. 110. No. 5: 935–939. DOI: 10.1542/peds.110.5.935.

14. Swales J.D. (1992) The Leicester AntiVaccination Movement. Lancet. Vol. 340. No. 8826: 1019–1021. DOI: 10.1016/01406736(92)93021e.

15. Otter Ch. (2015) Top Ten Origins: Vaccination. (2021) Origins. March 5. URL: https://origins.osu.edu/connectinghistory/352015toptenoriginsvaccination (accessed 19.06.2021).