The Role of Risk Perception and Ability to Detect Fake News in Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine among Students of Shiraz University, Iran

During health crises, such as Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the spread of fake news and rumors makes it difficult to distinguish real news. Besides, despite dangers, some endanger public safety by avoiding vaccination. It is not clear to what extent the individuals understand the dangers, and are influenced by the fake news. To elucidate the causes of this risky behavior, this study examined the role of fake news detection and risk perception in vaccine acceptance among students of Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.

Research method was survey, and research tool was a combined electronic questionnaire, including vaccine acceptance questionnaire of Montagni et al., fake news detection, developed by the researcher, and the risk perception questionnaire of Champion. The sampling method was voluntary. 382 students from Shiraz University (academic year of 2021-2022) answered the questionnaire. Data were analyzed through chi-square and binary logistic regression tests.

72.0% of students were vaccine acceptant, and 62.8% had a moderate risk perception regarding the disease. Although the students' demographic characteristics and risk perception showed no significant correlation with the vaccine acceptance, their ability to detect fake news had a significant positive correlation. In effect, the participants with higher fake news detection scores were 0.8 times less likely to be classed in the vaccine hesitant group, compared to the vaccine acceptance ones.

Acceptance of fake news about COVID-19 vaccine may reduce the vaccine acceptance. This finding highlights the key role of fake news detection literacy in controlling the behavior of individuals, and thus the safety of society.