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The Impact of COVID-19 Vaccine Myths and Conspiracy Theories on Vaccine Hesitancy and Vaccine Refusal in Turkey: Future Implications.

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Τίτλος: The Impact of COVID-19 Vaccine Myths and Conspiracy Theories on Vaccine Hesitancy and Vaccine Refusal in Turkey: Future Implications.
Συγγραφείς: Parlak AG; Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey., Gökçay G; Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey., Karacan Y; Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Yalova University, Yalova, Turkey.
Πηγή: Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.) [Public Health Nurs] 2026 Jan-Feb; Vol. 43 (1), pp. 91-106. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Oct 19.
Τύπος έκδοσης: Journal Article
Γλώσσα: English
Στοιχεία περιοδικού: Publisher: Blackwell Scientific Publications Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 8501498 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1525-1446 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 07371209 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Public Health Nurs Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: [Boston, MA] : Blackwell Scientific Publications, [c1984-
Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): COVID-19 Vaccines*/therapeutic use , COVID-19 Vaccines*/administration & dosage , Vaccination Hesitancy*/psychology , Vaccination Hesitancy*/statistics & numerical data , COVID-19*/prevention & control , COVID-19*/psychology , Vaccination Refusal*/psychology , Vaccination Refusal*/statistics & numerical data , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*, Humans ; Turkey ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Adult ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires
Περίληψη: Objectives: Misinformation, conspiracy theories, and myths rapidly spreading through social media and various news outlets can play a significant role in the increase of community-based vaccine hesitancy and refusal. This study, conducted after the conclusion of COVID-19 vaccination efforts, aimed to determine the potential impact of circulating COVID-19 vaccine myths and conspiracy theories in various news sources on vaccine hesitancy and refusal in the Turkish society during a future pandemic.
Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.
Methods: In this study 1010 adult individuals responded to an online survey published on social media platforms between November 2023 and March 2024. Data were collected using a Socio-Demographic Information Form, the COVID-19 Vaccine Myths and Conspiracy Theories Survey in Turkey, and the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale in Pandemics.
Results: The study found that the mean total score of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale in Pandemics was 31.54 ± 5.55. The most widely accepted vaccine myths and conspiracy theories among the Turkish population were, in order: "Vaccines are definitely not safe because they were developed too quickly," "vaccines are not safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women," and "vaccines have increased deaths due to heart attacks." The statement "microchips were implanted in people via vaccines" was the least accepted belief. Among those who believed that vaccines are not safe because they were developed too quickly, 63.9% reported that they would not get vaccinated in a new COVID-19 pandemic, and 50.2% stated that they would not get vaccinated in a pandemic caused by a different agent.
Conclusions: The resurgence of anti-vaccine movements and misinformation following COVID-19 vaccinations, which has led to increased vaccine hesitancy and refusal, urgently necessitates that health policy makers develop strategies and that healthcare providers implement effective interventions promptly.
(© 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
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Contributed Indexing: Keywords: COVID‐19; nursing; pandemic; vaccine hesitancy; vaccine myths
Substance Nomenclature: 0 (COVID-19 Vaccines)
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20251019 Date Completed: 20260108 Latest Revision: 20260702
Update Code: 20260703
DOI: 10.1111/phn.70030
PMID: 41109980
Βάση Δεδομένων: MEDLINE
Περιγραφή
ISSN:1525-1446
DOI:10.1111/phn.70030