People Aren’t Stupid: They’re Wary of False Information About COVID-19
Published in General & Internal Medicine and Arts & Humanities
In 2021, I traveled to six West African countries to conduct a study on COVID-19 perceptions and lead training sessions on public awareness. COVID-19 vaccination, which began in March or April depending on the country, was a clear failure—very few people were showing up to get vaccinated. Since February 2020, the WHO had been repeating that an “infodemic” of false information about COVID-19 was “just as dangerous” as the pandemic itself, in the words of its Director-General. This infodemic was often said to explain the low vaccine uptake.
However, the discussions I had and the interviews I conducted did not suggest that people were particularly distrustful of COVID-19 vaccines. A large portion of the population didn’t see themselves at risk from COVID-19. Many believed it was a “white people’s disease” and thought Africans were protected either by the climate or by some kind of natural immunity. Misinformation about vaccines didn’t seem to play a role in the low uptake, even though African countries had the lowest vaccination coverage in the world.
In 2023, I conducted a study on COVID-19 vaccination in Niger, where only 22% of the population was vaccinated. The study confirmed my previous observations (https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.23-0708). A high 73.3% of the population believed that COVID-19 vaccines were “a good thing,” and 83% of those who had heard vaccine promotion messages supported them. This clearly showed that, at least in Niger, low vaccine uptake wasn’t due to mistrust of vaccines.
Since 2021, it had also become clear that the alarmist narratives and articles from 2020 predicting that a wave of misinformation would prevent adequate vaccine coverage had been wrong. In industrialized countries, people rushed to get vaccinated as soon as the vaccines became available. The pessimistic forecasts proved completely off base.
That led me to compare the intention to get vaccinated expressed in 2020 with actual uptake, and to evaluate whether exposure to false information had influenced the gap between intent and uptake. In other words, to see if misinformation had dissuaded some people from getting vaccinated. The results of this study, conducted in 46 countries and published in Discover Public Health, were unequivocal: there is no connection between exposure to misinformation online or on social media and the difference between stated vaccination intentions and actual uptake.
The internet and social media carry far more accurate health information than false information. Studies have shown that, contrary to popular belief, this is even more true for COVID-19 than for other health topics. You’d have to hold the public in pretty low regard to believe they’re more influenced by false information than by accurate information.
Follow the Topic
-
Discover Public Health
This is an open access journal publishing research from all fields relevant to public health.
Related Collections
With Collections, you can get published faster and increase your visibility.
Promoting Healthy Diets and Food Security across Global Public Health Systems
The interconnection between healthy diets and food security is a critical concern for global public health systems, particularly in the context of escalating population growth, climate change, and socioeconomic disparities. Proper nutrition is essential for overall health and well-being; however, millions worldwide face malnutrition in its various forms, including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and obesity. Food security encompasses not only the availability of food but also its accessibility, utilization, and stability. Addressing these complex challenges is vital for achieving sustainable development goals and improving health outcomes across diverse populations.
This Collection is motivated by the urgent need to strengthen the integration of health policy with healthy diet promotion and food security within public health frameworks. As nations work to build resilient health systems, innovative strategies that promote healthy eating and ensure food security are essential. This Collection aims to gather interdisciplinary insights and research that address these pressing issues, fostering collaboration among public health experts, nutritionists, policymakers, and community stakeholders.
The purpose of this Collection is to provide a platform for sharing research findings and practical solutions that enhance healthy diets and food security through effective health policies. We welcome contributions that explore policy interventions, community-based initiatives, and innovative programs focused on promoting nutrition education and improving food access. By highlighting diverse perspectives and successful models, this Collection seeks to inform future public health strategies and contribute to the development of effective, equitable food systems worldwide.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Evidence-based community interventions to enhance food security
- The influence of health policy on food systems and public health outcomes
- Global case studies demonstrating effective food access and health promotion
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 2 and SDG 3.
Keywords: healthy diets; food security; nutrition promotion; malnutrition; public health; health policy; food access and availability
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Dec 05, 2026
The Economics of Longevity: Health Expenditure and Societal Implications for Public Health Systems
The relationship between health investment and life expectancy has long been a focal point in public health research and policy. As nations grapple with rising healthcare costs and varying health outcomes, understanding how financial allocations influence population health becomes increasingly critical. Numerous studies have illustrated that increased spending on health services often correlates with improvements in life expectancy; however, the complexities of this relationship are not fully understood. Factors such as socioeconomic status, healthcare accessibility, and the efficiency of health systems play significant roles in determining how investments translate into health outcomes.
At the national level, health investments primarily encompass government expenditure on healthcare systems, public health initiatives, and health infrastructure. Nations that allocate substantial resources toward healthcare often experience better health outcomes and increased life expectancy among their populations. For instance, countries with robust healthcare funding tend to provide more comprehensive services, including preventive care, chronic disease management, and health promotion programs, all of which contribute to enhanced population health. However, it is crucial to consider how these investments are distributed across different segments of the population. Inequities in health spending can exacerbate existing disparities, leading to significant differences in life expectancy among various demographic groups. Effective health investment strategies must address these disparities to ensure that improvements in life expectancy are equitable and inclusive.
The motivation for this Collection arises from the urgent need to bridge the gap between health expenditures and tangible improvements in life expectancy. Recent global health crises and ongoing disparities in health outcomes across different populations have underscored the necessity for a deeper exploration of how resource allocation affects health dynamics. This Collection seeks to provide a platform for researchers and practitioners to discuss empirical evidence, theoretical frameworks, and innovative approaches to understanding these critical interactions. By fostering dialogue around effective health investment strategies, we aim to contribute to the development of more equitable and efficient health systems worldwide.
The purpose of this Collection is to gather comprehensive research that elucidates the dynamics between health investment and life expectancy across diverse contexts. We welcome contributions that analyze historical trends, comparative studies, and policy evaluations, as well as those that explore the implications of financial investments on health equity. By highlighting interdisciplinary perspectives and fostering collaboration, this Collection aspires to advance the discourse on optimizing health investments for improved population health outcomes.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Economic evaluations of health interventions
- Policy impacts on health spending and life expectancy
- Health equity and investment disparities
- Longitudinal studies on health expenditures and population health
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3.
Keywords: health expenditure; healthcare economics; life expectancy; economic evaluation; population health; health investment; health policy
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Sep 04, 2026
Please sign in or register for FREE
If you are a registered user on Research Communities by Springer Nature, please sign in