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Conspiracist Ideation

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When it comes to vaccines - why are people talking about 'Marginalised groups' ?

Powerful groups oppress the disadvantaged by imposing vaccination

One of the strongest predictors of vaccine hesitancy is people’s general mistrust of authorities and those perceived as working for them.

The distrust is often expressed in claims about vested interests, or it reveals itself as a lack of knowledge about vaccinations.

It can be directed towards different targets, for example:

  • Health and medical professionals and organisations.
  • Pharmaceutical companies.
  • Governments.
  • Scientists.
  • The ‘medical establishment’.

It can also be directed towards the scientific process and to vaccines themselves.

Although distrust is related to conspiracist beliefs, arguments framed within this attitude root are distinct in that the reasons for distrust may be due to a person’s lived experience (e.g., having experienced discrimination in the healthcare system). Arguments stemming from distrust also need not relate to conspiracies. Instead, distrust often manifests as vague statements, full of suspicion and uncertainty, with conclusions drawn based on the source of the message.

This theme reflects a general suspicion that those outside of one’s (usually marginalised) community, with the individual only trusting their community and social networks.

Is there any truth in it?

Distrust towards authorities is sometimes justified. For example, some people may be concerned because there is indeed a history of misuse of governmental power in health campaigns that dates back to colonial times. It is important that healthcare systems acknowledge this, become more accessible, and reduce discriminatory practices, rather than assume that trust comes automatically. Minority groups are often disempowered and have worse health outcomes than the majority. It is important to listen to their concerns to address these health disparities.

What could I say to someone fixed on this belief?

Dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals is most productive if it is guided by empathy, and an opportunity for the patient to affirm the reasons underlying their attitudes and to express understanding for that. That’s why it is important to understand the attitude roots behind people’s overt opinions. To affirm a person’s underlying attitude root does not mean we need to agree with the specifics of their argument. For example, we can acknowledge that:

Distrust towards authorities is sometimes justified. For example, some people may be concerned because there is indeed a history of misuse of governmental power in health campaigns that dates back to colonial times. It is important that healthcare systems acknowledge this, become more accessible, and reduce discriminatory practices, rather than assume that trust comes automatically. Minority groups are often disempowered and have worse health outcomes than the majority. It is important to listen to their concerns to address these health disparities.



Having set the stage through this (partial) affirmation, we can then proceed to correct the patient’s particular misconception.

Vaccines were developed to protect from diseases—the burden of which often falls disproportionately on marginalised groups. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the poor and underprivileged the hardest (often minorities and people of colour).

Vaccines have saved more lives than any other medical invention and the World Health Organization has repeatedly called for greater equity in vaccine distribution so lower income countries can also be protected from disease.

Disadvantaged communities are already marginalised by poorer health outcomes and the disproportionate impact of disease. If only advantaged communities take up vaccination, this would perpetuate the oppression of the disadvantaged.

Where can I find out more?

Additional information: 

Academic references:

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MISINFORMATION & DISTRUST

One of the strongest predictors of vaccine hesitancy is people’s general mistrust of authorities, pharmaceutical companies, scientists, the medical “establishment”, and scientific research methods and findings. The distrust is often expressed in claims about vested interests or a lack of knowledge about vaccinations. It can be directed towards different targets, for example, health and medical authorities or professionals, pharmaceutical companies, the government, and the scientific process and vaccines themselves.

 

Although distrust is related to conspiracist ideation, arguments framed within this attitude root are distinct in that the reasons for distrust may be due to a person’s lived experience (e.g., having experienced discrimination in the healthcare system). Arguments stemming from distrust also need not relate to conspiracies. Instead, distrust often manifests as vague statements, full of suspicion and uncertainty, with conclusions drawn based on the source of the message.