DIGITAL INJECTION OF UNCERTAINTY: THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON VACCINATION HESITANCY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
DIGITAL INJECTION OF UNCERTAINTY: THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON VACCINATION HESITANCY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Author(s): Sidorina Ekaterina
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Economy
Published by: Udruženje ekonomista i menadžera Balkana
Summary/Abstract: The influence of social media on vaccine hesitant users is concerning, as it most often negatively affects the decision about vaccination of oneself and their children, encourages the spread of misinformation and leads to the endangerment of the population. Giving all the potential that the online sphere obtains, this work is meant to bring awareness of the issues caused by social media regarding anti-vaccination and encourage closer monitoring of such content in order to battle hesitancy. The territory of interest for this research is European Union, as despite its unsullied prior record, the most recent data has been showing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases due to insufficient vaccination coverage rates. (European Commission, 2016) Analyzing European vaccination data and patterns, EU-focused academic researches and literature and social media presence of the “anti-vax” campaigns, the work brings up the prospects and suggestions for the possible solutions to the problem.

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