Social Media Users’ Hesitancy Towards Children’s COVID-19 Vaccination: Implications for Physical Wellbeing

ORCID

Arman: https://doi.org/10.1093/9780198945253.003.0080

MSU Affiliation

College of Arts and Sciences; Department of Communication, Media and Theatre

Creation Date

2025-11-21

Abstract

A growing number of people seek health advice online, adding to vaccine hesitancy and an increase in nonmedical exemptions, despite immunizations demonstrated public health benefits. This study analyzes 196 posts and over 40,000 (41,718) public comments from the CDC Facebook page, exploring the themes, keywords, and sentiment patterns in public discourse concerning COVID-19 vaccines for children. The CDC’s posts exhibit a comprehensive strategy that addresses vaccine availability, safety, benefits, and preventive actions. Conversely, user comments reveal mixed sentiments, reflecting participation, skepticism, and endorsement. Positive engagement emerged in discussions about vaccination and vaccine benefits. However, hesitancy and stakeholder trust featured prominently, with terms like “lie” and “risk” indicating mistrust and resistance fueled by misinformation and safety concerns. Sentiment analysis showed a predominantly positive and trust-oriented narrative in the CDC’s posts, aligning with their goal of promoting vaccine confidence. However, public comments were dominated by negative emotions, with fear, anger, and disgust reflecting significant anxiety and skepticism. Trust and anticipation were less pronounced, indicating a gap in public confidence. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

Publication Date

6-26-2025

Publication Title

Oxford Intersections: Social Media in Society and Culture

Publisher

Oxford University Press

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1093/9780198945253.003.0080