Emerging global patterns of COVID-19 vaccine information fatigue in 23 countries in 2023.

Abstract

Vaccine information fatigue, exacerbated by the infodemic, misinformation, and cultural influences, hampers public responsiveness to the uptake of vaccines for COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases. This cross-sectional study of 23,000 respondents surveyed in 23 countries in October 2023 analyzed trust in information sources, perceptions of the pandemic's conclusion, and confidence in one's ability to discern false information from true and the association of these factors with willingness to pay attention to COVID-19 vaccine information, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Results revealed that satisfaction with health authority communication was positively associated with individuals' willingness to pay attention to COVID-19 vaccine information in all 23 countries. Confidence in one's own capacity to distinguish true information from false was associated with willingness in 20 countries. Belief that the pandemic is over was associated with unwillingness to pay attention to COVID-19 vaccine information in 14 countries. These findings underscore the need for tailored communication strategies that build trust in information sources, combat complacency, and enhance discernment skills to address vaccine and pandemic fatigue, aiming to sustain public engagement with vaccine information and, ultimately, support vaccination efforts.