How Scientists View Vaccine Hesitancy

Abstract

This paper examines possible causes, consequences, and potential solutions for addressing vaccine hesitancy in the United States, focusing on the perspectives of academic scientists. By examining the experiences of scientists, who are arguably a critical community in US society, we gain deeper insights into how they understand the complexities of vaccine hesitancy and whether their insights and opinions converge with or diverge from the current literature. We present findings from a national survey of a representative sample of academic scientists from the fields of biology and public health regarding vaccine hesitancy and related topics. Empirical analysis using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses covers multiple topics, including vaccine controversy, trust in science, causes of vaccine hesitancy, preferred policy and regulatory approaches, risk perceptions, and scientists' ethics and perceived communication roles. The results highlight a diversity of opinions within the scientific community regarding how to improve science-society communication in regard to vaccines, including the need to be transparent and candid to the public about the risk of vaccines and their research.

Keywords: decision making; health crisis; risk; science communication; science controversy; scientist opinions; scientist roles; vaccine hesitancy.

Figure 3

Origin of the COIVD-19 pandemic.

Figure 4

Source of public confusion about vaccines and vaccination.

Figure 1

Level of controversy in the science community regarding FDA-approved vaccines.

Figure 2

The extent of different groups’ responsibility for generating vaccine controversy.

Figure 5

Reasons for recent declines in vaccination coverage in the U.S.

Figure 6

Opinion on policy frames for vaccination.

Figure 7

Opinions regarding risks and benefits of expediting FDA approval processes.

Figure 8

Opinion about regulating social media platforms to prevent vaccine misinformation.

Figure 9

Scientists’ roles in reducing vaccine hesitancy.

Figure 10

Scientists’ views about the ethics of communicating vaccine information to the public.