Social Media Misinformation about Pregnancy and COVID-19 Vaccines: A Systematic Review

Social Media Misinformation about Pregnancy and COVID-19 Vaccines: A Systematic Review

March 14, 2024 | Mahnoor Malik, Natasha Bauer-Maison, Giuliana Guarna, Rohan D. D'Souza
This systematic review identifies common social media misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, explains how misinformation spreads, and suggests solutions to guide clinical practice and policy. The review found that misinformation on social media often includes concerns about vaccine safety, its association with infertility, and harmful side effects. These misconceptions spread rapidly due to a lack of social media monitoring, the exclusion of pregnant women from early vaccine trials, and limited accurate information from reputable sources. The review highlights that pregnant women are more likely to turn to social media for information due to a lack of accessible, evidence-based resources from official channels. Misinformation can lead to vaccine hesitancy and lower vaccination rates among pregnant women, which can have serious consequences for both mothers and babies. Suggested solutions include integrating COVID-19 vaccination discussions into antenatal care, increasing the presence of public health and medical professionals on social media to disseminate accurate information, and addressing population-specific concerns in a culturally relevant manner. Additionally, health systems should develop protocols to provide pregnancy services during the pandemic and ensure that information is culturally relevant and accessible. The review emphasizes the importance of providing accurate, evidence-based information through multiple channels to combat misinformation and increase vaccine uptake. It also highlights the need for ongoing research on the impact of social media on public perception of healthcare and the importance of using living systematic reviews to keep information up-to-date. The study concludes that addressing misinformation through targeted strategies can help improve vaccine confidence and ensure better health outcomes for pregnant women and their babies.This systematic review identifies common social media misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, explains how misinformation spreads, and suggests solutions to guide clinical practice and policy. The review found that misinformation on social media often includes concerns about vaccine safety, its association with infertility, and harmful side effects. These misconceptions spread rapidly due to a lack of social media monitoring, the exclusion of pregnant women from early vaccine trials, and limited accurate information from reputable sources. The review highlights that pregnant women are more likely to turn to social media for information due to a lack of accessible, evidence-based resources from official channels. Misinformation can lead to vaccine hesitancy and lower vaccination rates among pregnant women, which can have serious consequences for both mothers and babies. Suggested solutions include integrating COVID-19 vaccination discussions into antenatal care, increasing the presence of public health and medical professionals on social media to disseminate accurate information, and addressing population-specific concerns in a culturally relevant manner. Additionally, health systems should develop protocols to provide pregnancy services during the pandemic and ensure that information is culturally relevant and accessible. The review emphasizes the importance of providing accurate, evidence-based information through multiple channels to combat misinformation and increase vaccine uptake. It also highlights the need for ongoing research on the impact of social media on public perception of healthcare and the importance of using living systematic reviews to keep information up-to-date. The study concludes that addressing misinformation through targeted strategies can help improve vaccine confidence and ensure better health outcomes for pregnant women and their babies.
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