How the Internet Influenced the Decrease of Vaccinations

How the internet influenced the decrease of vaccinations.

Monique Velasco

National University

ILR 260

Professor Robert Lucas

March 30, 2013

INTRODUCTION

Many times people are influenced by their culture, family, friends, and what they want to believe.  Most people want to believe what they read to be true. No one likes to be misled especially when research online. Due to misleading information, many Americans believe vaccinations are harmful, purely from online research and social Medias.  Because of inaccurate information, there has been a decrease in vaccine acceptance.  With that said because of the decrease in immunizations, there is a greater chance of an epidemic outbreak whether it is pertussis, whooping cough, polio, measles, small pox, diphtheria, and etc.  This paper will go into detail as to how the internet influenced the decrease of vaccinations.  

Misleading Information

Today millions of Americans have access to the net. Whether their research is done with a  desktop, laptop, iPad, and cellphones all information is essentially the same no matter the device. In 2009, it is estimated that about 175 million Americans searched online for health related topics such as “vaccines” (Bean, S., p 1875). The internet has become one the most available and handy form of research.  It is no wonder, “online research is more accessible than reading medical journals or visiting health practioners”, many Americans have become reliant upon internet-based information (Kata, A., p. 1709).  Countless Americans rely on online sources/ information, and this can be dangerous. There is an immeasurable amount of creditable sources.  More than half of internet users believe “almost all” or “most” health websites are sound (Kata, A., p. 1709).  Thus leaving Americans to believe everything they read online.  It is estimated that about 88% of websites have “made claims of unsupported by evidence, including that: smallpox is not contagious (but rather spread by bedbugs); autism is caused by “stealth viruses”; and polio is caused by sugary foods” (Kata, A., p. 1713).

[pic 1]

Figure 1: Depicts Willy Wonka listening to one of his potential subjects to take over the Willy Wonka chocolate factory.  [ONLINE] Available at: http://www. www.memegenerator.net [Last Accessed March 30, 2013].

The internet has influenced parents/guardians decisions not to immunize their children (Betsch, C., p447).  Parents base their opposition of vaccinations with information seen on online social groups or the media.  It is simple, by typing the word “vaccination” or “vaccine” in the search box, tons of misleading anti-vaccine websites pops up within the first page.  It is estimated that about “71% of results from the Google.com “vaccination” search were classified as anti-vaccination”, thus making it very easy to read and believe misleading information (Kata, A., p. 1711).  Most if not all anti-vaccine websites are opinionated biased views that are spread like a wild fire.  “The likelihood that vaccination decisions may be based on misleading information” is at an abundant rate (Kata, A., p. 1709).  Not only are anti-vaccine websites found misleading due to content, but also due to playing on ones emotions.

Scare Tactics

Playing on people’s emotions can be quite convincing and sway ones opinion(s) of vaccines. About 88% of ant-vaccine websites are formulated to raise negative emotions/views of vaccines by design of persuasion (Kata, A., p. 1713).  Emotive appeals such as personal testimonies, victim imagery, needle imagery, us versus them, and responsible parenting.  [pic 2] Table 1: In Kata’s, “A postmodern Pandora’s Box”, she illustrates scare tactics of anti-vaccine websites on page 1711.

It can very persuasive reading testimonies of parents of children whom suffered a rare side effect from a vaccine(s). Secondly, looking at images of children crying getting poked by large needles is never appealing.  No one has happy feelings of joy looking at an infant or children get stuck by a large needle.  In the article, “The real issues in vaccine safety […]”, Roberta takes the reader on a step-by-step journey of why the general public is frightful of vaccinations.  Yes, it may sound fearful of little ones getting vaccinated with diseases; it is still better than having an outbreak and truly debilitating our little ones.  Roberta unveils that most scientists believe aside from the graphic nature of such photos or testimonies; it is still an unreliable source.  For example, during Vietnam War, photographers took and posted many gruesome photos in newspapers, showing the gruesomeness of war. War is never a good circumstance, but if it were not for war then there would be no America, hence referring to the Civil War.  Many lives were taken, but many were saved and the country thrived to prosperity. In the same sense, vaccines outweigh the risks.