Popular COVID-19 conspiracy linked to vaccine 'sensitivity'

A recent study of beliefs and attitudes towards COVID-19 in five different countries (United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Mexico and Spain) has determined how attractive some important conspiracy theories are to these populations.

The study reveals "key predictors" of susceptibility to fake pandemic news, and finds that a small increase in the perceived reliability of the conspiracy equates to a significant decrease in willingness to vaccinate.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge collected data from national samples in each country and asked participants to rate the reliability of several statements, including the six pandemic myths about COVID-19.

Although the vast majority of people in all five countries/regions considered the misinformation unreliable, the researchers found that certain conspiracy theories had taken root in a large portion of the population.

The entire conspiracy is believed to be most validated by the claim that COVID-19 was designed in the Wuhan laboratory. In the UK and the US, 22-23% of respondents rated this claim as "reliable". In Ireland, the proportion rises to 26 per cent, while in Mexico and Spain it rises to 33 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively.

Participants were asked about their attitudes toward a future coronavirus vaccine. They were also asked to rate the reliability of conspiratorial COVID-19 claims on a scale of 1 to 7.

On average, a one-seventh increase in the reliability of someone's perceived misinformation was associated with a nearly one-fourth (23%) decrease in the likelihood that they would agree to a vaccine.

Similarly, a single-point increase in the Complicity Reliability Scale was associated with a 28% decrease, on average, in the likelihood that someone would recommend vaccination to vulnerable friends and family members.

Conversely, on average, trust in scientists increased by one in seven, resulting in a 73% increase in the likelihood of getting vaccinated, while recommending vaccination to others increased by 79%.

In modelling the level of "vaccine hesitancy", the researchers controlled for many other factors (from age to political factors) and found that the results were consistent for all countries except Spain.