Discussion
In the present study, we aimed to investigate how people of Sindh view a
COVID-19 vaccine, particularly in terms of quick formulation of vaccine,
availability, side effects, myths, and misinformation in the local
community. To the best of our literature search, this is the first study
in investigating the myths misinformation of the COVID-19 vaccine in the
local community of Sindh, Pakistan. Nowadays, vaccine acceptance has
been a big challenge, which upraised the concern of trust in the
immunization process of COVID-19 for the public even in developed
countries, a similar type of myths and conspiracies were also faced for
measles, polio, rubella, and mumps due to myths and misinformation
results in decreased vaccination [13, 14]. Pakistan has faced these
issues for decades for Polio vaccines and now the same issue raised for
COVID-19. Trust in vaccination impair can coexist in various forms of
vaccination hesitancy [15], as it can be associated with myths,
misinformation, and conspiracies in vaccination efficacy and
practicality, or comprehensive rejection of vaccination [16]. These
are the constant issues in public trust regarding the adverse effects of
vaccines.
Beliefs in vaccines associated with education level have been studied in
Canada, the US, and other countries. Importantly, concerns regarding
vaccine safety were also found in well-educated areas [17]. Our
findings are also accordingly, educated participants were also in doubts
about the safety of vaccines, and moreover, our results indicated that
educated participants were in favor of immunity through vaccines, and
with the increasing education level the results showed that participants
were against the myths.
The most widely repeatedly cited trust comprised that vaccines can cause
disease; infants immune system can be saturated if injected too many
vaccines frequently, vaccines contains dangerous elements in the
formulation, Children with underlying health conditions are more
vulnerable to vaccines side effects; the purpose of vaccines is making
money; naturally immunity is more powerful than with vaccines [18],
our findings were also similar, results suggested that majority of
participants were in belief that peoples with underlying conditions and
pregnant or breastfeeding should not get vaccinated as it can be
harmful.
Globally, another predictor is religion’s most widely studied indicator
in vaccine hesitancy researches. Studies indicated that higher
religiosity was connected with an increasing ratio of vaccine rejection
[19]. Our results did not show any religious involvement in vaccines
myths conspiracies or misinformation which lead to vaccines refusal.
Associated with the already published findings from Canada and other
countries [20], importantly we also found that education level is
the key indicator of vaccine rejections illiterate and less educated
showed higher rejection and more trust in myths and conspiracies.