Results of the study on vaccine skepticism and social distrust announced
A new study conducted in Turkey revealed that institutional and social distrust lie at the root of vaccine hesitancy and skepticism.
The "Health Misinformation and Social Resilience" study, conducted by Prof. Dr. Seda Demiralp, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Uğur Özdemir, and Dr. Aykut Öztürk, has highlighted the direct relationship between vaccine skepticism and institutional distrust.
Scope and Profile of the Study
The study, carried out with the participation of 1,500 people across Turkey between April 6–9, 2026, in collaboration with Emotics Lab and Segmenta Araştırma, has been published.
Misconceptions and Undecideds Regarding Vaccines
While the percentage of those who explicitly rejected claims that vaccines could negatively affect children's development stood at 36 percent, 33 percent agreed with this statement, and 30 percent remained undecided.
Confidence Rates in Health Authorities
The percentage of those who think scientists and doctors misinform citizens was 44 percent, while those who disagreed with this view remained at 26 percent.
The Relationship Between Distrust and Misinformation
It was observed that as the level of social distrust increased, openness to vaccine misinformation rose from 24 percent to 58 percent.
Experts' Recommendations and Evaluations
Researchers emphasize that strengthening the trust relationship between citizens and authorities is of vital importance for the success of health communication.