Discussion
In the present study, we aimed to investigate how people of Sindh view a COVID-19 vaccine, particularly in terms of quick formulation of vaccine, availability, side effects, myths, and misinformation in the local community. To the best of our literature search, this is the first study in investigating the myths misinformation of the COVID-19 vaccine in the local community of Sindh, Pakistan. Nowadays, vaccine acceptance has been a big challenge, which upraised the concern of trust in the immunization process of COVID-19 for the public even in developed countries, a similar type of myths and conspiracies were also faced for measles, polio, rubella, and mumps due to myths and misinformation results in decreased vaccination [13, 14]. Pakistan has faced these issues for decades for Polio vaccines and now the same issue raised for COVID-19. Trust in vaccination impair can coexist in various forms of vaccination hesitancy [15], as it can be associated with myths, misinformation, and conspiracies in vaccination efficacy and practicality, or comprehensive rejection of vaccination [16]. These are the constant issues in public trust regarding the adverse effects of vaccines.
Beliefs in vaccines associated with education level have been studied in Canada, the US, and other countries. Importantly, concerns regarding vaccine safety were also found in well-educated areas [17]. Our findings are also accordingly, educated participants were also in doubts about the safety of vaccines, and moreover, our results indicated that educated participants were in favor of immunity through vaccines, and with the increasing education level the results showed that participants were against the myths.
The most widely repeatedly cited trust comprised that vaccines can cause disease; infants immune system can be saturated if injected too many vaccines frequently, vaccines contains dangerous elements in the formulation, Children with underlying health conditions are more vulnerable to vaccines side effects; the purpose of vaccines is making money; naturally immunity is more powerful than with vaccines [18], our findings were also similar, results suggested that majority of participants were in belief that peoples with underlying conditions and pregnant or breastfeeding should not get vaccinated as it can be harmful.
Globally, another predictor is religion’s most widely studied indicator in vaccine hesitancy researches. Studies indicated that higher religiosity was connected with an increasing ratio of vaccine rejection [19]. Our results did not show any religious involvement in vaccines myths conspiracies or misinformation which lead to vaccines refusal. Associated with the already published findings from Canada and other countries [20], importantly we also found that education level is the key indicator of vaccine rejections illiterate and less educated showed higher rejection and more trust in myths and conspiracies.