Role and Usage of Social Media in COVID-19 : An Analysis of Vaccination- Related Conspiracy Theories

ABSTRACT

There are various misconceptions related to COVID-19 and the vaccine. This study attempts to identify the role of social media in spreading the misinformation related to COVID-19 and vaccination. This study will help the agencies to identify the categories of misconceptions and the vaccination -related conspiracy theories dispersed in social media. In the analysis, seven clusters were found, and the concept map presents seven general misconceptions categories;similarly, six subcategories under vaccination-related conspiracy theories were found. This study concludes that vaccination -related misconception circulated in social media is a serious issue that could affect the vaccination rate severely. Hence, a multipronged tactic should be adopted having the components of counter -information strategy, sharing information from authentic sources, educating the general population to go for rigorous review of the information, and improving the health literacy level.