Wired to Doubt: Why People Fear Vaccines and Climate Change and Mistrust Science

Abstract

We all want to be right in our thinking. Vaccine hesitancy and global warming denial share much in common: (1) both are threats to personal, community and global health, (2) action is contingent on co-operation and social policy, and (3) public support relies on trust in science. The irony is, however, as the science has become more convincing, public opinion has become more divided. A number of early polls showed that ~70% of people supported COVID-19 vaccine use and global warming, ~20% adopted a wait-and-see approach, and ~10% were staunch objectors. Although these percentages are approximate, what factors are responsible for the differences in engagement, doubt and distrust? How can we reduce the consensus gap? One approach is to return to grass roots and provide a brief history of the issues, understand the difference between fact and opinion, truth and falsehood, the problem of certainty, and how scientific consensus is reached. To doubt is a healthy response to new information, and it too has a scientific basis. Doubt and distrust reside in that region of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for suppressing unwanted representations. Bridging the consensus gap requires shifting human thinking patterns from doubt to belief, and belief to action. Education and improved public messaging are key, and social media providers require urgent oversight or regulation to remove false and harmful/dangerous content from our digital lives. Delays to vaccinate and failure to reduce greenhouse gases will dramatically change the way we live. The new norm may be more deadly COVID variants, strained healthcare systems, extreme weather patterns, diminished food supply, delays in goods and services, damage to world's economies and widespread global instability.

Knowledge of Human Monkeypox and Its Relation to Conspiracy Beliefs among Students in Jordanian Health Schools: Filling the Knowledge Gap on Emerging Zoonotic Viruses

“…In this study, the finding of high levels of endorsement of conspiracy beliefs about emerging virus infection was an anticipated outcome. In the current milieu of the continuous emergence of infectious diseases, the embrace of conspiratorial explanations escalates due to fear and uncertainty [ 82 ]. In our previous study among the general population residing in Jordan, 57% of the study participants believed that SARS-CoV-2 origin was related to biological warfare [ 47 ].…”

COVID-19 Mortality in Brazil, 2020-21: Consequences of the pandemic inadequate management

“…In a study carried out in the United States, skepticism was strongly associated with a reduction in prevention behaviors [43]. As it is a highly transmissible infection, individual freedom to adopt prevention behaviors has been widely discussed since the individual option can harm others or society in general [44].…”

The intersection between climate change, COVID-19, and future pandemics – Perspectives among American transportation network drivers

“…As the public is increasingly attuned to the term “pandemic” and have increasing beliefs that climate change is happening ( Leiserowitz et al, 2021 ), it is important for public health professionals to cease this opportunity to communicate how climate change and globalization can affect emerging infectious diseases ( Whitmee et al, 2015 ; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2021 ). Furthermore, by understanding this connection, the public potentially could be more willing to accept political or societal changes for climate change or pandemic mitigation ( Dobson, 2022 ; Latkin et al, 2022 ).…”

“…The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus is a disease of zoonotic origin that resulted in a global health crisis. People's doubts or beliefs of climate change are related to (dis-)concern for COVID-19 ( Dobson, 2022 ; Latkin et al, 2022 ; Kulcar et al, 2022 ). For example, in a recent study about views of climate change and COVID-19, researchers found higher climate change concerns were associated with a 2-times higher perceived risk for COVID-19 ( Latkin et al, 2022 ).…”