The effects of misinformation on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Bangladesh
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-05-2021-0080 |
| Published date | 24 October 2021 |
| Date | 24 October 2021 |
| Pages | 82-97 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Information behaviour & retrieval,Information in society,Information literacy,Library & information services |
| Author | Md. Rifat Mahmud,Raiyan Bin Reza,S.M. Zabed Ahmed |
The effects of misinformation on
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy
in Bangladesh
Md. Rifat Mahmud,Raiyan Bin Reza and S.M. Zabed Ahmed
Department of Information Science and Library Management,
University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Abstract
Purpose –The main purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy
among the generalpopulation in Bangladesh and the role ofmisinformation in this process.
Design/methodology/approach –An online survey was conducted to assess COVID-19 vaccine
hesitancy among ordinary citizens.In addition to demographic and vaccine-related information, a five-point
Likert scale was usedto measure vaccine-related misinformation beliefsand how to counter them. Chi-square
tests were used to examinethe relationship between demographic variablesand vaccine acceptance. A binary
logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify vaccine hesitancy by different demographic groups.
Nonparametric Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests were performed to determine the significance of
difference between demographicgroups in terms of their vaccine-related misinformation beliefs.Finally, the
total misinformationscore was computed to examine the correlation betweenvaccine hesitancy and the total
score.
Findings –This study found that nearly half of the respo ndents were willing to receive COVID-19
vaccine, whereas more than one third of the pa rticipants were unsure about taking the vaccine.
Demographic variables (e.g., gender, age an d education) were found to be significantly related to COVID-19
vaccine acceptance. The results of bina ry logistic regression analysis showed that respondents who were
below 40 years of age, females and those who had lower education attainments had sign ificantly higher
odds of vaccine hesitancy. There wer e significant differences in participants’vacc ine-related
misinformation beliefs based on their de mographic characteristics, particularly in the case of educational
accomplishments. A highly significant negati ve correlation was found between total misinformation score
and vaccine acceptance.
Research limitations/implications –The survey was conductedonline, and therefore, it automatically
precluded non-internet users fromcompleting the survey. Further, the number of participants from villages
was relativelylow. Overall, the results may not be representativeof the entire population in Bangladesh.
Practical implications –The findings of this paper couldguide government agencies and policymakers
in devising appropriate strategies to counter COVID-related misinformation to reduce the level of vaccine
hesitancyin Bangladesh.
Originality/value –To the authors’bestknowledge, this study is the first to measure the level of COVID-
19 vaccine hesitancy and the influence of misinformation in this process among the general public in
Bangladesh.
Keywords Bangladesh, Misinformation, Vaccine, COVID-19, Counter-misinformation strategies,
Vaccine hesitancy
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Human infection with the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19, later named SARS-CoV-2,
was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. The virus spread across
the world in about three-month time, triggering a global public health emergency. The
GKMC
72,1/2
82
Received3 May 2021
Revised29 July 2021
6 September2021
Accepted2 October 2021
GlobalKnowledge, Memory and
Communication
Vol.72 No. 1/2, 2023
pp. 82-97
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2514-9342
DOI 10.1108/GKMC-05-2021-0080
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/2514-9342.htm
World Health Orga nization (WHO) subsequently declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2020.
The first three cases of COVID-19 were confirmedin Bangladesh on 8 March 2020 (Dha ka Tribune,
2020). At the beginning of September 2021, more than 25,000 deaths and nearly 1.5 million
confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in Bangladesh, whereas over 219 million cases were
recorded and more than 4.5 million people died from COVID-19 worldwide (Worldometer, 2021).
In an effort to slow down the spread of the virus, most countries around the world
implemented stringent regulationsincluding social distancing, lockdowns and stay-at-home
orders (de Bruin et al., 2020). These actions, however, have had devastating effects on the
economy, especially in thedeveloping countries. They also have severely affected the social,
physical and psychological well-beingof the people. Given the current situation, a vaccine is
the most effective global preventive measure to minimize the spread of the virus (Dinleyici
et al.,2020;Wang et al., 2020). According to Fontanet and Cauchemez (2020), vaccine is
considered to be the safestway to achieve herd immunity.
In recent months, a number of vaccines includingthose developed by Pfizer–BioNTech,
Moderna, Oxford–AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Sputnik V, Johnson, etc., are being
used around the world. Bangladesh has started COVID-19 vaccination from February 7,
2021, using Oxford–AstraZenecavaccine, manufactured by Serum Institute of India. At the
time of this study, frontline workers (doctors, nurses, law enforcement agencies, military
and other forces, government officials, journalists, public representatives, etc.) and the
general public who were aged over 40years were eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine
(Dhaka Tribune, 2021a). Thegovernment, however, had to stop administering the first dose
of Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine on 26 April amid shortage of supplies (DW.COM, 2021;
Dhaka Tribune, 2021b).As of 29 April 2021, nearly 5.8 millionpeople had received their first
dose of the Oxford vaccine, whereas nearly half of them received the second dose (Dhaka
Tribune, 2021c). According to Directorate General of Health Services, as of 19 June 2021,
more than 1.5 million people who took the first dose of Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine were
waiting to receive their seconddose because of the shortage of the vaccine (Daily Star, 2021).
The government, however, resumed administering the second dose of the vaccine from 7
August 2021, after receiving Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine from Japan under the COVAX
facility (Dhaka Tribune, 2021d). In the meantime, Bangladesh ordered 15 million doses of
Chinese Sinopharm vaccine and began administering the first dose of the vaccine from 25
May 2021. Bangladesh also started administering Pfizer–BioNTech and Moderna vaccines
received through COVAX. Further, the government has lowered the age limit for COVID-19
vaccination to 25years to bring more people under its inoculation program (Dhaka Tribune,
2021e).
A number of studies noted that the availability of vaccines cannot be used properly
because of decrease in vaccine trust that led to hesitancy and reluctance to vaccination
(Larson, 2014;Phadke et al.,2016;Hotez, 2020). The term “vaccine hesitancy”can be defined
as the “[a] delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccinesdespite availability of vaccine services.
Vaccine hesitancy is complex and context specific,varying across time, place and vaccines.
It is influenced by factors such as complacency, convenience and confidence”(WHO, 2014).
The WHO has listed vaccine hesitancy in the top ten global healththreats. A global survey
found that 71.5% of the global population would receive COVID-19 vaccines if they are
proven safe. It also found significant differences in vaccine acceptance across countries
(Lazarus et al., 2021). Another survey found similar results where China had the highest
positive vaccine acceptance rate. South Korea, Canada, the USA and the UK had similar
promising vaccine acceptanceresponses. On the other hand, countries such as South Africa,
Russia and France had an alarming rate of vaccine hesitancy (World Economic Forum,
2020). In Bangladesh, a survey conducted jointly by Facebook and University of Maryland
COVID-19
vaccine
hesitancy
83
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