More collaboration between media and scientists wanted during pandemic

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-05-06 09:45

New Zealand

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340 Kiwis answered questions about their willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and about the media's portrayal of the vaccine, as part of a wider study on stress and health during the pandemic. Ninety per cent of participants were willing to receive the vaccine, despite 51 per cent having some kind of concern about it, such as safety or fast development. Reasons given for receiving the vaccine included protection, and returning to normality. Essential workers in health were less willing to be vaccinated. Participants felt that the media generally provided good coverage, but sometimes engaged in unbalanced reporting, sensationalism, and spreading misinformation. The authors point out the sample is small and not representative - 92 per cent of the respondents were female. They say that healthcare essential workers should be reassured of the vaccine's safety, and future interventions should include more collaboration between media and scientists, and more focus on easy-to-access information.