Cork GP: Challenge to maintain level of trust in vaccines in face of conspiracy theories

A Cork GP has said that vaccine acceptance being higher in Ireland than in many other countries is welcome, but that doctors must continue to work to counteract online conspiracy theories.

The Worldwide Independent Network of MR released a survey across 38 countries including Ireland, which shows that one in five Irish people would not take a traditional vaccine, and one in four would not take an mRNA vaccine.

Globally, one third of people either reject or are unsure about traditional vaccines.

Polling firm RedC Research surveyed 1,000 adults in Ireland as part of the project and found a majority still trust vaccines to a higher degree than the global average, with 73% saying they would accept a traditional vaccine compared to 68% globally.

Some 67% of Irish adults said they would be open to taking an mRNA vaccine, which came to the forefront with the production of covid vaccines, compared to 60% both in Europe and globally.

Acceptance of mRNA vaccines is higher in Ireland among those with a third-level education (71%) and those in higher socio-economic grades (75%).

Blackpool GP and Fianna Fáil councillor John Sheehan told The Echo that Ireland’s comparatively high acceptance of vaccines was welcome. “There’s a couple of reasons for it — it probably hasn’t gotten politicised the way it has in countries like the US,” he said.

“A level of trust is really important — anecdotally we’ve noticed some people from eastern Europe, former soviet bloc countries, are more suspicious of vaccines and state intervention.

“The challenge for us is to maintain that level of trust, given what’s happening on social media in terms of conspiracy theories.

“Our collective memory of these diseases is, thankfully, diminishing, but that brings challenges. I’ve seen one case of measles in the last 20 years in Blackpool, which is a huge improvement, the single biggest improvement to children’s health in Ireland since 2010 is down to vaccines.

“Cork had a polio outbreak in the 1950s, and I still see patients suffering the consequence of that. These illnesses caused quite significant damage, and we’d do well to remember that.

“We should also remember that these vaccines help protect vulnerable people, who may not be able to take these vaccines themselves, so rely on herd immunity.”

John Rogers, associate director at RedC Research, said: “These findings are largely positive, driven perhaps by our highly educated population. Given the high levels of conspiracy theories and misinformation relating to vaccines, particularly involving those that cause negative effects in children, it’s concerning to see the vaccine acceptance and trust of innovative medicines is lower amongst Irish parents.”