How social media is playing a part in vaccine hesitancy and misinformation - abc7amarillo.com

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — Social media has encouraged the spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and hesitancy.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Office of Global Health hosted a virtual webinar Wednesday to address the concerns and science skepticism.

Since the beginning of last year, there have been endless posts, comments and discussions about the COVID-19 vaccine that have circulated on social media.

Stephen Kesting a jiujitsu expert who has used his large social media following to show support for the shot believes things other than science drive vaccine hesitancy.

“As a political trend, as a fashion, as a reflex, ‘Oh if the CDC is telling me something, I’m going to do the opposite,’” Kesting said.

There has been a rally behind the idea that getting vaccinated is giving up your freedom.

As a native of the Lone Star State, Dr. Jeff Dennis with TTUHSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences said many Texans don’t like being told what to do.

“Now again, we let the government tell us to wear a seat belt and plenty of things we can and can’t do,” Dr. Dennis said. “They tell us what vaccinations are kids need to go to public school.”

Dr. Dennis also said there is only so many facts and arguments you can tell a person. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes personal experience.

“When the case rate, the hospitalization rate has shot back up a lot of people that were on the fence have gone and got vaccinated,” Dr. Dennis said. “Now again, that’s not changing the...



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