COVID-19, Fake News, and Vaccines: Should Regulation Be Implemented?

Julio Emilio Marco-Franco, Pedro Barros, David Vivas-Orts, Silvia González- de-Julián and David Vivas-Consuelo
Additional contact information
Julio Emilio Marco-Franco: Research Centre for Economics Engineering, Polytechnic University of Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain
David Vivas-Orts: Faculty of Law, University Pompeu Fabra, 08024 Barcelona, Spain
Silvia González- de-Julián: Research Centre for Economics Engineering, Polytechnic University of Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain
David Vivas-Consuelo: Research Centre for Economics Engineering, Polytechnic University of Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-11

Abstract: We analysed issues concerning the establishment of compulsory vaccination against COVID-19, as well as the role of misinformation as a disincentive—especially when published by health professionals—and citizen acceptance of measures in this regard. Data from different surveys revealed a high degree of hesitation rather than outright opposition to vaccines. The most frequent complaint related to the COVID-19 vaccination was the fear of side effects. Within the Spanish and European legislative framework, both compulsory vaccination and government regulation of FN (Fake News) appear to be feasible options, counting on sufficient legal support, which could be reinforced by additional amendment. However, following current trends of good governance, policymakers must have public legitimation. Rather than compulsory COVID-19 vaccination, an approach based on education and truthful information, persuading the population of the benefits of a vaccine on a voluntary basis, is recommended. Disagreements between health professionals are positive, but they should be resolved following good practice and the procedures of the code of ethics. Furthermore, citizens do not support the involvement of government authorities in the direct control of news. Collaboration with the media and other organizations should be used instead.

Keywords: COVID-19; vaccination; fake news; medical code of ethics; governmental regulations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/2/744/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/2/744/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:2:p:744-:d:481655

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().