Threat of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Pakistan: The Need for Measures to Neutralize Misleading Narratives

Immediately after declaring COVID-19 as a pandemic, numerous wild conspiracy theories sprouted through social media. Pakistan is quite vulnerable to such conspiracy narratives and has experienced failures of polio vaccination programs because of such claims. Recently, two well-known political figure...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 103; no. 2; p. 603
Main Authors: Khan, Yusra Habib, Mallhi, Tauqeer Hussain, Alotaibi, Nasser Hadal, Alzarea, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, Alanazi, Abdullah Salah, Tanveer, Nida, Hashmi, Furqan Khurshid
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 01.08.2020
Subjects:
Betacoronavirus
Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control
COVID-19
COVID-19 Vaccines
Health Communication
Health Education
Health Personnel
Humans
Mass Media
Pakistan
Pandemics - prevention & control
Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control
Religion
SARS-CoV-2
Vaccination
Vaccination Refusal
Viral Vaccines
Pakistan
ISSN:1476-1645, 1476-1645
Online Access:Get more information
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Summary:Immediately after declaring COVID-19 as a pandemic, numerous wild conspiracy theories sprouted through social media. Pakistan is quite vulnerable to such conspiracy narratives and has experienced failures of polio vaccination programs because of such claims. Recently, two well-known political figures raised conspiracy theories against COVID-19 vaccines in Pakistan, stating that COVID-19 is a grand illusion and a conspiracy against Muslim countries. This theory is much discussed in the local community, supporting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. We urge healthcare authorities in Pakistan to take necessary measures against such claims before they penetrate to the general community. Anti-vaccine movements could undermine efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that ethical and responsible behavior of mass media, a careful advisory from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, stern measures from healthcare authorities, effective maneuvers to increase public awareness on COVID-19, vigorous analysis of information by data or communications scientists, and publication of counter opinions from health professionals against such theories will go a long way in neutralizing such misleading claims. Because Pakistan is experiencing a large burden of disease, with a sharp rise in confirmed cases, immediate action is of paramount importance to eradicate any potential barriers to a future COVID-19 vaccination program.
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ISSN:1476-1645
1476-1645
DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0654