Popular attitudes toward vaccination in the “post”-COVID-19 period

The goal of this article Collection is to bring together manuscripts that investigate popular attitudes toward vaccination in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period. During the pandemic, there was a great deal of misinformation and conspiracy theories circulating about vaccines, at times promoted by political leaders and parties. As a consequence, confidence in vaccines was undermined, and a large number of people developed negative views toward not only COVID-19 vaccines, but also other vaccines. Concurrently, trust in public health institutions that were promoting vaccination declined. Despite the World Health Organization declaring an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency in May of 2023, these negative views toward vaccines may have endured.

The Collection seeks to investigate people’s attitudes toward vaccines and vaccination policy in the post-COVID-19 context. Of particular interest are studies exploring attitudes toward vaccines, such as annual flu vaccine and children’s vaccines; as well as attitudes toward vaccination policies, such as mandatory vaccination. The Collection has a global scope and seeks to study vaccination attitudes in a variety of geographical and political contexts. Any empirical method of inquiry is welcome. Besides general population studies, we are particularly interested in studies examining attitudes toward vaccination among various population groups, such as: healthcare workers, students, older adults, residents of rural areas, and people with disabilities, among others. 

This Collection supports research connected to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 that seeks to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” As such, the findings will be relevant to public health officials at all levels as they seek to rebuild people’s trust in vaccines and the public health institutions that were often undermined during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Collection will be interdisciplinary and seek contributors from disciplines not limited to:

• Communication
• Health policy
• Political science
• Psychology
• Social policy

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being.