The COVID-19 vaccine on Facebook: A study of emotions expressed by the Brazilian public

Vaccines are an essential public health resource for disease containment and reduction of associated mortality rates. With the emergence of COVID-19, public debates on the themes of vaccines and vaccination processes became important topics on diverse media and social networking platforms. In this article, our objective was to identify and reflect on the emotions evoked in the Brazilian public with respect to the COVID-19 vaccine during 2020 and 2021 on Facebook. To achieve this, we used the Crowdtangle graphical interface to extract complete copies of posts made by public Facebook profiles during this timeframe, from which a random sample of 1,067 posts was selected for analysis. Identification of emotions was performed using the Human-Machine Interaction Network on Emotion (HUMAINE) descriptors as a baseline reference. Emotions were then grouped into categories following Core Affect Model guidelines. Data analysis and interpretation indicated a prevalence of positive emotions such as trust, interest, and hope directed toward vaccines in the Brazilian domestic scenario. Negative emotions such as worry and disapproval were also expressed, albeit in reference to contextual issues (for example, the spread of COVID-19, delays in vaccine access, and the emergence of new variants) and public figures, such as the President of Brazil. © COMUNICAR, 76 (2023-3)

Politics, economy and society in the coverage of COVID-19 by elite newspapers in US, UK, China and Brazil: a text mining approach

We analyzed 95,970 stories on COVID-19 published in 2020 by newspapers in US, UK, China and Brazil - countries marked by controversial management of the crisis. Through a text mining approach, we identified main topics, subjects, actors and the level of attention. The coverage was politicized in The New York Times and Folha de S. Paulo;focused on health aspects in The Guardian;and emphasized the economic situation in China Daily. In this sense, the pandemic has motivated a deeper approach to the multiple dimensions of science and health, pointing to a broader perspective of science communication.

Perceptions of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work of science journalists: global perspectives

The article presents the results of a survey of science journalists from six world regions about their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The responses show perception of increasing workload for most participants. Local scientists and peer-reviewed articles are the main sources. According to the respondents, scientists have become more available during the pandemic. The use of preprint articles was a frequent practice, but a considerable proportion declared they did not adopt different procedures when reporting them. Most also said they take fake news into account when writing their stories.

Communicating the "race" for the COVID-19 Vaccine: An Exploratory Study in Newspapers in the UnitedStates, the UnitedKingdom, and Brazil

The search for an effective solution to control the COVID-19 pandemic has mobilized an unprecedented effort by science to develop a vaccine against the disease, in which pharmaceutical companies and scientific institutions from several countries participate. The world closely monitors research in this area, especially through media coverage, which plays a key role in the dissemination of trustful information and in the public's understanding of science and health. On the other hand, anti-vaccine movements dispute space in this communication environment, which raises concerns of the authorities regarding the willingness of the population to get vaccinated. In this exploratory study, we used computer-assisted content analysis techniques, with WordStat software, to identify the most addressed terms, semantic clusters, actors, institutions, and countries in the texts and titles of 716 articles on the COVID-19 vaccine, published by The New York Times (US), The Guardian (UnitedKingdom), and Folha de São Paulo (Brazil), from January to October 2020. We sought to analyze similarities and differences of countries that stood out by the science denialism stance of their government leaders, reflecting on the severity of the pandemic in these places. Our results indicate that each newspaper emphasized the potential vaccines developed by laboratories in their countries or that have established partnerships with national institutions, but with a more politicized approach in Brazil and a little more technical-scientific approach in the UnitedStates and the UnitedKingdom. In external issues, the newspapers characterized the search for the discovery of a vaccine as a race in which nations and blocs historically marked by economic, political, and ideological disputes are competing, such as the UnitedStates, Europe, China, and Russia. The results lead us to reflect on the responsibility of the media to not only inform correctly but also not to create stigmas related to the origin of the vaccine and combat misinformation. © Massarani and Neves.

Science and Covid-19 in Brazil: the repercussion of WHO decisions in Twitter

This work objective is to analyze the discussion on science, its role and functioning, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil. A study of the repercussion on Twitter of the decisions of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the tests of chloroquine and/or hydroxychloroquine for the Covid-19 treatment was carried out in three moments: (i) temporary suspension, (ii) resumption, and (iii) interruption. 501,123 tweets were analyzed. The results indicate an incomprehension about scientific research functioning and the presence of politically interested discourses against science.

COVID-19 and science communication: a JCOM special issue. Part 2

As COVID-19 continues its devastating pathway across the world, in this second part of the JCOM special issue on communicating COVID-19 and coronavirus we present further research papers and practice insights from across the world that look at specific national challenges, the issue of "fake news" and the possibilities of satire and humour in communicating the seriousness of the deadly disease.

COVID-19 in Brazil: an analysis about the consumption of information on social networks

In this article, we analysed the 100 most engaging contents about COVID-19 on social networks in Brazil, in March 2020, when the disease officially arrived in the country. Within the infodemic context, we analysed the accuracy of the information and the reliability of the websites that guided the debate. Our results show that misinformation/disinformation accounted for 13.5% of the sample and that their average engagement was greater than the one for the information that could be verified in other sources and in accordance with scientific evidence. We also found that professional websites, especially journalistic ones, predominate among sources. The results point to the need to combine science communication strategies with network communication dynamics.

“Mask saves lives”: The social representations of the covid-19 pandemic in drawings by children from Rio de Janeiro

Although children, like adults, had their social relationships and routines altered by the pandemic and are key social actors to understand the changes caused by this worldwide sanitary crisis, building their own representations and narratives, few studies on the topic focus on children. To analyze children’s perception about the covid-19 pandemic, we interviewed 20 children between 8-10 years old, living in the city of Rio de Janeiro, by means of digital platforms and the commented drawing technique. We mainly analyzed the drawings and narratives associated with the children themselves, by the following categories of analysis: routine, feelings during the pandemic, representation of the virus, and new habits. The children generally drew the stages of their daily lives, including playing, the use of electronics and online classes, as well as the sanitary measures used in their family surroundings and their feelings. Children show caution regarding the pandemic, indicating their awareness on the importance of practicing social distancing, using a mask and maintaining good personal hygiene to combat the covid-19, but they also showed concern, fear and even anger at the virus. © 2021, UNIV SAOPAULO. All rights reserved.

Trust, attitudes, information: a study on the perception of the COVID-19 pandemic in 12 Brazilian cities

In this study, the perception of Brazilians regarding COVID-19 in 12 cities in the country was analyzed. Issues about the severity and dangers of the disease, sources of information and reliability, checking information, attitudes, precautions, and priorities for coping and trusting relationships in science were addressed. This study was carried out in the context of broader research on how Brazilians perceive the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz). The survey was applied between May 18 and June 10, 2020, with 1,643 residents over 16 years of age in Brazilian cities where Fiocruz has a technical unit or office. The results reveal that the majority of the interviewees appreciate the seriousness of the pandemic, the importance of being properly informed, considers the measures indicated by health authorities important and trusts scientists and scientific institutions as sources of information. With the sense of urgency and experience of uncertainties about the present and the future, the need for strengthening of trust in institutions is present.

[Perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, and viruses in general among children]

Although children have been identified as the group least affected by COVID-19 symptoms (even though they are not automatically shielded from the disease or its severe forms), their daily lives have been affected in various ways, including interruption of in-person school activities and contact with classmates, besides other impacts from social isolation and in many cases family financial and health problems. This study aims to understand the perceptions of children in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil towards SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, and viruses in general, through a qualitative study. We interviewed 20 children via conference services platforms. The findings indicate that children are aware of the risks and necessary precautions for coronavirus prevention, displaying apprehension and fear of catching the disease and transmitting it to their family members. As for viruses in general, we found that their perceptions are related directly to the novel coronavirus, that is, the situation they are dealing with at present. The study provides elements that can help design science dissemination strategies.