. 2023 Feb 7;20(4):2898. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20042898

Table 2.

Mean response and percentage of no-to-weak, neutral, and moderate-to-strong belief for each conspiracy theory statement based on vaccination status.

How Strongly Do You Believe the Following Statements:	MEAN (SD)	SEM	Vaccination Status	% No-to-Weak Belief	% Neutral Belief	% Moderate-to-Strong Belief
1. COVID-19 doesn’t actually exist but is a plot to take away our personal freedom.	1.80 (1.039)	0.055	No	60.8	26.7	12.5
	1.80 (1.039)	0.055	Yes	84	11.9	4.1
2. Conventional drugs to fight the COVID-19 virus do not cure it but are a plot by big pharmaceutical companies. There is alternative medicine available (such as vitamins and herbs) that can cure or even prevent the COVID-19 virus.	2.40 (1.197)	0.063	No	29.2	39.2	31.7
	2.40 (1.197)	0.063	Yes	63.4	25.5	11.1
3. COVID-19 is no more dangerous than the flu, but the risks have been exaggerated as a way to restrict personal freedom.	2.48 (1.233)	0.065	No	30.8	30.8	38.3
	2.48 (1.233)	0.065	Yes	64.6	21	14.4
4. The mRNA technology used by some of the vaccines alters (can alter) our DNA.	2.41 (1.144)	0.060	No	29.2	34.2	36.7
	2.41 (1.144)	0.060	Yes	64.6	28.8	6.6
5. The COVID-19 vaccine can affect women’s fertility.	2.85 (1.075)	0.056	No	18.3	35.8	45.8
5. The COVID-19 vaccine can affect women’s fertility.	2.85 (1.075)	0.056	Yes	42.8	42.8	14.4
6. You can get COVID-19 from the vaccine.	2.09 (1.151)	0.06	No	41.7	28.3	30
6. You can get COVID-19 from the vaccine.	2.09 (1.151)	0.06	Yes	77.4	16.5	6.2
7. Once I receive the COVID-19 vaccine I no longer need to wear a mask or take any precautions against the virus	2.05 (1.084)	0.057	No	64.2	24.2	11.7
	2.05 (1.084)	0.057	Yes	72.4	16.5	11.1
8. Researchers rushed the development of the COVID-19 vaccine so its effectiveness and safety cannot be trusted.	2.94 (1.135)	0.060	No	18.3	30	51.7
	2.94 (1.135)	0.060	Yes	44.0	34.6	21.4
9. The COVID-19 vaccine includes a tracking device or microchips.	1.53 (0.887)	0.047	No	68.3	21.7	10
	1.53 (0.887)	0.047	Yes	95.1	3.3	1.6
10. I have already been diagnosed with COVID-19 so I don’t need to receive the vaccine	1.95 (1.186)	0.062	No	53.3	24.2	22.5
	1.95 (1.186)	0.062	Yes	80.2	12.8	7.0

Note: mean on Likert scale 1–5 where 1 = “extremely unbelievable” to 5 = “extremely believable”; SEM = standard error of the mean; vaccination status, No = non-vaccinated, Yes = vaccinated; % no-to-weak belief = percentage of sample in 1st to 25th percentile; neutral belief = 26th to 75th percentile; and moderate-to-strong belief = 76th to 100th percentile.