Viruela y Covidnarrativas y creencias antivacunas

Abstract

Objective: To study the content of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine narratives and compare it with the narratives against the smallpox vaccine, which occurred in the past. Design: Historical review of narratives against the smallpox vaccine. On the other hand, qualitative study of anti-SARSCoV- 2 vaccine narratives available the Internet. Method: For the historical review, digitized documents from the 19th and 20th centuries were consulted in Spanish and thematic focused on the rejection of the smallpox vaccine. For the qualitative study, an intentional sampling of anti-vaccine narratives present on the Internet was made, with their transcription and thematic analysis. The saturation of the speeches was reached early. Results: Both the current anti-vaccine narratives and those of the past direct the discourse to the intuitive and rational thinking of their audience. They appeal to the fear of death, disease, infertility or genetic degeneration. In the rational sphere, they take advantage of the evidence gaps in vaccines, which fill in pathophysiological conjectures, emit biased information that appears scientific, and disparage contrary arguments. Conclusion: The essence of the anti-vaccine narrative has barely evolved; it is the same one that has already failed its fateful predictions in the past. This allows us to reinforce to users the idea that anti-vaccine discourse is not a reliable instrument to predict problems with vaccines and is not useful to help resolve doubts regarding the decision to vaccinate.