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. 2023 Jan 11;9:e40201. doi: 10.2196/40201

Table 2.

Types and contents of COVID-19 vaccine–related misinformation.

Type of misinformation and subtype Explanation Contents
Conspiracy


Vaccine existence conspiracy Conspiracy about the existence of COVID-19 vaccines

  • No vaccine: COVID-19 vaccines are a conspiracy, hoax, or fraud.

Political conspiracy Conspiracy about political purpose related to the vaccines

  • Device for track/control: Vaccines contain microchip/nanochips and are used for tracking or control people.

  • Population control and new world order: The vaccines are used for the control of population or to create new world order.

  • Depopulation: Vaccines are used for reducing population or for genocide.

  • Bioweapon: Vaccines are a bioweapon.

  • Other conspiracy to a certain subject: Certain people or groups are behind the vaccines for their own good, such as government officials, pharmacy company, Bill Gates.

Vaccine development and promotion conspiracy Conspiracy about COVID-19 in vaccine development and vaccination promotion

  • COVID-19 for vaccines: COVID-19 vaccines existed before the virus, or COVID-19 was made to enforce vaccination.

  • Financial incentive in developing: Vaccines are created only for the profit of pharmaceutical companies and government.

  • Political incentive in developing: Vaccines are approved because of political pressure, or because pharmaceutical company has bought/coerced the government.

  • No enough evidence: Vaccines are untested or not tested enough.

  • Rush in development: Vaccines are rushed in development, thus cannot be trusted.

  • Fabricated vaccine efficacy: Data on vaccine efficacy/effectiveness are fabricated.

  • Cover-up side effect data: Data about the vaccine side effect or death are kept secret.

  • Rejection in registration: Vaccines (which are approved in fact) are rejected in registration for concern.

  • Paid for promotion: Physicians issue vaccines for financial profit.

  • Playacting in promotion: Public figures are vaccinated with inert substances (eg, saline).

Conspiracy related to a certain group The conspiracy that vaccines will be harmful, used to control, or be tested in a specific group

  • Conspiracy of a certain country/region: People in certain country or region are guinea pigs. Vaccines are less effective or is fake in these regions. (eg, African region, Muslim nations).

  • Conspiracy of ethnic minorities: Vaccines are harmful or for killing ethnic minorities; ethnic minorities are guinea pigs (eg, Asian, Black people).

  • Conspiracy of other certain groups: Vaccines are used to reduce these people (eg, elder people, less educated people, low-income group).
Concerns on vaccine safety and efficacy

Effectiveness Beliefs that vaccines are ineffective

  • Vaccines would not work: Vaccines will not work (a simple claim without further explanation).

  • Ineffective in certain groups: Vaccines will not be effective on people with comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension.

  • Ineffective claim from authority: Government officers or doctors admit vaccines would not work.

  • New strain for cover-up: The new variant of COVID-19 is a hoax and is a cover-up for ineffectiveness of the vaccines.

  • Fake vaccines: Vaccines are water.

  • Same as other vaccines: COVID-9 vaccines are no different from the flu vaccine.

  • Fail before vaccination: Vaccines cannot be preserved properly.

Safety Unsubstantiated safety concern

  • Cause COVID-19: Vaccines will make people catch COVID-19.

  • Worse than COVID-19: Vaccines are more dangerous than the disease itself.

  • Alter DNA: Vaccines will change people’s DNA.

  • Infertility and offspring: Vaccines will make women infertile or affect their offspring.

  • Cause death: Vaccines kill people.

  • Cause other diseases: Vaccines make people get chronic disease, autism, autoimmune disease, paralysis, cancer, physical destruction, impotency, etc.

  • Change people: Vaccines make people magnetic, or turn people into robots, vampires, zombies, etc.

  • Poison: Vaccines contain poisonous materials, such as mercury, toxic ingredients, chemicals.

  • Live virus: COVID-19 vaccines contain a “live strain” of the virus.

  • Unspecified danger: Vaccines are dangerous (a simple claim without further explanation).

  • Side effect responsibility: No one is responsible for the potential side effects of the vaccines.
No need for vaccines


Unnecessary A simple claim that COVID-19 vaccines are unnecessary without explanation

  • Unnecessary: COVID-19 vaccines are not needed.

Natural immunity and protective behavior Beliefs that it is better to get natural immunity or get immunity through naturally protective ways, etc.

  • Alternative: Prefer or believe in natural immunity, herd immunity, or protective behaviors.

Mild COVID-19 Believe COVID is a mild disease and no need for vaccines

  • Mild COVID-19: COVID-19 is not dangerous; thus, vaccines are not needed.

COVID-19 denial Denial of COVID-19 pandemic leading to COVID-19 vaccines

  • COVID-19 denial: COVID-19 is a hoax, or a fraud, thus no vaccines are needed.

Personal need Beliefs that it is unnecessary for the vaccines because of their health status

  • Underlying disease: I get autoimmune disease, thus cannot take vaccines.

  • Immune from infection: I am already immune from a past COVID-19 infection.

  • Not a risk group: I am young/healthy/a certain blood type, thus have a low risk of getting COVID-19 or developing serious disease.

Overstatement of vaccine refusal Exaggeration about vaccine refusal rate in other places

  • Refusal exaggeration: 1 in 6 people will refuse COVID-19 vaccines.
Morality


Religion Vaccines go against religious belief, or are viewed as a sign of demon

  • Religion: Vaccines may go against religious beliefs. Devil led people to receive vaccines.

Human experiment Vaccine campaign is a human experiment

  • Human experiment: It is a part of a secret research. Vaccinated ones are guinea pigs.

Fetal tissue Fetal remains in vaccines

  • Fetal tissue: COVID-19 vaccines are made from cells of aborted fetuses.
Liberty


Against mandatory vaccines/control False claims about mandatory vaccination, and refusal to obey “control”

  • Mandatory vaccination: They are forcing us.

  • Against government control: Opposition to the government’s control.

Support for freedom Claims that vaccine infringes individual freedom

  • Freedom: Vaccines are an attempt to take away personal freedom.

Ignore consent Concerns that children will be forced to get vaccinated without parents’ consent

  • Ignore consent: Children getting vaccinated without parental consent.
Humor


N/Aa A humorous but exaggerated way to express unsubstantiated vaccine rumor

  • Humor: Parody/meme of an adverse reaction.
Overstatement


Overstatement of the protection/progress of vaccines Exaggeration about the effect and the scientific progress in COVID-19 vaccines

  • Overstatement: COVID-19 vaccines are ready; able to cure a patient within 3 hours. After getting the vaccines, we will not have the infection anymore. After getting the COVID-19 vaccines, one can stop wearing the mask and taking safety precaution. As vaccines for COVID-19 have been developed, we can make vaccines for the common cold, HIV, and others.

aN/A: not applicable.