Measuring Attitudes About the COVID-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Country Analysis

In this chapter, we extend the groundwork laid in Chap. 7 to delve deeper into our research methodology and preliminary findings regarding attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine. Building upon our COVID-19 Vaccine Positive Attitude Index (VPAI), constructed from real-time Twitter data, we offer insights into the evolving landscape of public sentiment surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. Firstly, we explain the process of creating the VPAI, emphasising our commitment to harnessing Big Data to gauge public attitudes. Our descriptive findings, spanning from 1 February 2021 to 31 July 2021, across ten countries (refer to Chaps. 4 and 5 ), highlight temporal trends in vaccine attitudes, distinguishing between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and individual countries. We highlight successful government policy initiatives that have influenced these trends while also addressing instances where governmental failures have fuelled vaccine hesitancy, especially among ethnic minorities and the most vulnerable communities. Our analysis reveals varying trends in vaccine attitudes across countries, with notable successes observed in Belgium and the Netherlands. Belgium’s proactive governmental measures to address logistical challenges resulted in a positive trend in the VPAI, showcasing the impact of policy interventions on public sentiment. Conversely, the Netherlands’ successful information campaigns transformed their initially sluggish vaccination programme into a success story, significantly increasing vaccination numbers. This chapter serves as a critical phase in our investigation, setting the stage for Chap. 9 , where we will identify variables significantly related to the VPAI and propose policy measures to enhance vaccine acceptance. By delving into the factors influencing positive attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines, our research aims to contribute meaningfully to the discourse on public health and vaccination attitudes amidst a global pandemic.