Mapping global public perspectives on mRNA vaccines and therapeutics

Abstract

Abstract The development and rollout of mRNA vaccines during COVID-19 marked a significant advancement in vaccinology, yet public hesitation to vaccination was prevalent, indicating the potential risk that future mRNA-based medical innovations will fail to be adopted. Utilizing a combined approach of large language models with manual validation and unsupervised machine learning, we conducted a social listening analysis to assess attitudes towards mRNA vaccines and therapeutics on Twitter from June 2022 to May 2023, contrasting online perspectives with data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. Our findings reveal widespread negative sentiment and a global lack of confidence in the safety, effectiveness, and trustworthiness of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, with frequent discussions of severe vaccine side effects, rumors, and misinformation. This underscores the need for targeted communication strategies to foster acceptance of medical treatments and strengthen public trust in order to enhance societal resilience to future health challenges.