TY - JOUR
T1 - Trust and mistrust in the MMR vaccine:
T2 - Finding divergences and common ground in online communication
AU - Fage-Butler, Antoinette
PY - 2024/7
Y1 - 2024/7
N2 - The effectiveness of vaccination programmes depends on high levels of public trust in political, scientific and health-related institutions, but public trust in vaccines can waver. This article explores aspects of public trust and mistrust on a web media platform about the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine through the statements of a doctor and an anonymised 'anti-vaxxer'. Thematic analysis identifies commonalities and divergences in both perspectives. Both trust and mistrust of MMR vaccination are presented as moral, reasoned stances by their proponents; they are connected to the individual's experiences and situations, but are associated with very different trust attitudes to scientific and political institutions. Moreover, both the trustworthiness of the speakers themselves and the (un)trustworthiness of authorities are emphasised. Trust and mistrust are also thematised in relation to contextual matters such as the role of social media and the historical MMR controversy. Further research towards identifying common ground between trust positions is recommended.
AB - The effectiveness of vaccination programmes depends on high levels of public trust in political, scientific and health-related institutions, but public trust in vaccines can waver. This article explores aspects of public trust and mistrust on a web media platform about the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine through the statements of a doctor and an anonymised 'anti-vaxxer'. Thematic analysis identifies commonalities and divergences in both perspectives. Both trust and mistrust of MMR vaccination are presented as moral, reasoned stances by their proponents; they are connected to the individual's experiences and situations, but are associated with very different trust attitudes to scientific and political institutions. Moreover, both the trustworthiness of the speakers themselves and the (un)trustworthiness of authorities are emphasised. Trust and mistrust are also thematised in relation to contextual matters such as the role of social media and the historical MMR controversy. Further research towards identifying common ground between trust positions is recommended.
KW - MMR vaccination
KW - internet and social media
KW - thematic analysis
KW - trust in authorities
KW - trustworthiness
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85196614816&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1515/sats-2023-0014
DO - 10.1515/sats-2023-0014
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1600-1974
VL - 25
SP - 91
EP - 110
JO - SATS - Northern European Journal of Philosophy
JF - SATS - Northern European Journal of Philosophy
IS - 1
ER -