A new study reveals that over one-third of Americans still harbor doubts about the scientific basis of COVID vaccines. This skepticism has remained relatively unchanged, with 36% of respondents expressing mistrust in 2021, 33% in 2022, and 36% in 2023.
Individuals who lost a family member or close friend to COVID-19 were notably more inclined to trust the science behind the vaccine and to accept vaccination, according to the study’s findings. For instance, those who had experienced a loss in the past year were nearly four times more likely to trust vaccine experts than those who had not lost someone close to them, researchers reported.
“Our findings underscore the critical role of trust in science during public health crises,” stated lead researcher Trenton White, a postdoctoral fellow at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health. “The fact that personal experiences of loss due to COVID-19 were associated with trust levels highlights the need for public health communications to be sensitive to the emotional impact of the pandemic.”
The study also found that vaccine acceptance was generally higher among men, individuals with college degrees, and those from higher-income households.
Looking ahead, the researchers suggested that public health officials should tailor their messaging to reflect the diverse demographics of the U.S. population in order to foster and maintain trust in science.
“This research provides valuable insights for policymakers and health communicators as they continue to navigate the ongoing challenge of global vaccine hesitancy,” said senior researcher Ayman El-Mohandes, dean of the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, in a CUNY news release.
The findings of this study were published on November 2 in the journal Vaccine: X.
{Matzav.com}