The Great Vaccine Divide: A Comparative Analysis of Distrust in Covid-19 Vaccines in Turkey

by Eralp K. Karduz & Ceylan Engin

The Great Vaccine Divide: A Comparative Analysis of Distrust in Covid-19 Vaccines in Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify key predictors of public distrust in different Covid-19 vaccines available in Turkey. We use multiple linear regression with robust standard errors to analyze the data from the 2022 Turkey Covid-19 Values Survey of 1,500 face-to-face interviews across Turkey. Our results show that Pfizer/BioNTech has the lowest level of distrust, followed by Sinovac and Turkovac. Trust in political institutions and health institutions significantly reduce distrust for all vaccine brands. However, conspiracy beliefs and political conservatism are linked to higher distrust in Sinovac and BioNTech, while increased religiosity correlates with more distrust in BioNTech but less in Turkovac. Our comparative brand analysis adds an essential perspective to the existing literature while highlighting the necessity of maintaining public trust in institutions. It also demonstrates the importance of brand-specific strategies in promoting vaccines and addressing challenges faced by populations for more successful public health initiatives.

Full paper:  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00207659.2024.2416280 

Karduz, Eralp K. and Ceylan Engin. 2024. "The Great Vaccine Divide: A Comparative Analysis of Distrust in Covid-19 Vaccines in Turkey" International Journal of Sociology 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207659.2024.2416280