Publication: To understand mRNA vaccine hesitancy, stop calling the public anti-science

P Peretti-Watel, P Verger, JK Ward, Nature Medicine 30 (4), 923-924

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic acceler-ated the development of mRNA vaccines and provided proof of concept for this new approach to protect humans against infectious diseases, as well as other diseases such as cancer. However, the use of mRNA technology depends on the public’s attitude toward it. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA technology was a factor in vaccine hesitancy in many countries, as some people feared potential side effects of this new technology 1. In France, COVID-19 vaccine coverage has reached 93% in the adult population, more than 9 of 10 vaccines administered have been mRNA vaccines, and the public considers mRNA vaccines to be safer and more effective than other available vaccines 2. However, by the summer of 2022, and again in the summer of 2023, half of those vaccinated reported still having doubts about the vaccine they had received 3.