Popular Attitudes Toward Vaccination During the Initial COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout (December 2020-May 2021): A Social Media Analysis.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered global vaccination campaigns while simultaneously fueling misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. This study analyzed 77,171 English-language tweets related to vaccination collected between December 2020 and May 2021 to examine how attitudes toward vaccination evolved during this critical period. Using a mixed-methods approach combining sentiment analysis, thematic classification, and demographic analysis, the study identified trends that may influence vaccination acceptance beyond COVID-19. Results showed a decline in positive sentiment (18.3% to 10.9%) and an increase in negative sentiment (9.1% to 14.6%), with a critical inflection point in February 2021. Trust in institutions was the most frequently discussed theme, but its initially positive sentiment decreased substantially by May 2021. Negative sentiment toward childhood vaccination rose sharply from 6.7% to 43.3% by April 2021. Users with larger follower counts contributed more negative content, amplifying skepticism. Eight misinformation categories were identified, including claims about DNA alteration, government control, and 5 G connectivity. Interpreted through the Health Belief Model, Social Amplification of Risk Framework, and Institutional Trust Theory, the findings suggest that vaccine distrust may extend to routine immunizations and highlight the need for targeted communication strategies to rebuild public trust.