Study tracks Americans' 'stubborn' distrust of the science behind COVID-19 vaccines

Data shows that between 2021 and 2023, about a third of U.S. survey respondents consistently expressed a general distrust in the science behind COVID-19 vaccines. File photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License photo

Nov. 4 (UPI) — A new study indicates what researchers describe as a persistent “stubborn distrust” in science among the American public COVID-19 vaccines.

The study, conducted by researchers from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health in Spain, appeared to shed light on overall public confidence in the science of COVID-19 vaccines and the effect on vaccine acceptance in the US. the United States from 2021 to 2023.

“This research provides valuable insights for policymakers and health communicators as they continue to deal with the ongoing challenge of global vaccine hesitancy,” said the study’s senior author, CUNY SPH Dean Ayman El-Mohandes, said Monday when announcing the findings.

Data shows that from 2021 through 2023, about a third of U.S. respondents consistently expressed a general distrust in the science behind COVID-19 vaccines.

In 2021, it was found that 36% of people distrusted vaccines. But that dropped to just over 32% a year later, in 2022, before rising again to just over 36% in 2023.

Furthermore, it was found that although levels of trust fluctuated only slightly over that period, the results were lower than the global averages reported in previous studies.

According to researchers, higher levels of trust were associated with male respondents, those with a university degree and those with above-median income levels.

“Our findings underscore the critical role of trust in science during public health crises,” said ISGlobal Postdoctoral Fellow Trenton M. White, the study’s lead author.

It outlines that individuals who have lost a family member or close friend to the virus were “significantly more likely to trust vaccine science and accept vaccination.” And those who experienced a loss in the past year were “nearly four times as likely to trust science compared to those who did not experience a loss,” research shows.

However, the share of the U.S. population expressing confidence in science remained nearly constant, ranging from 64 to 67% over the three years covered in previous studies.

White said the fact that personal loss due to COVID-19 was associated with trust levels “highlights the need for public health communications to be sensitive to the emotional impact of the pandemic,” he stated.

As for racial preferences, the research revealed while Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine “varied significantly” between white and non-white demographic groups; no significant correlation was found between racial backgrounds and trust in science.

“Although we did see slightly less trust in science among Latino respondents,” researchers say.

An irrational fear of COVID-19 vaccines has spread other vaccines such as that for the flu, with new information indicating that fewer than two in five American adults (38%) say they will definitely get a flu vaccine.

Meanwhile, trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a source of information was “significantly correlated” with both vaccine acceptance and future booster uptake, researchers said. And trust in science was a “strong predictor” of vaccine acceptance and willingness to receive recommended booster shots.

But researchers emphasized that “maintaining and increasing public confidence in vaccination programs requires strengthening trust in health communications from public sources,” especially the CDC.

Experts have suggested that future public health strategies take into account the “diverse socio-economic and educational backgrounds” of US citizens to “effectively build and maintain trust in science-based solutions.”