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Misinformation and Fake News Threaten Dengue Vaccination in Brazil

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at State University Rio de Janeiro have expressed concern about the rise of misinformation and fake news about vaccines in Brazil, particularly regarding the arrival of dengue vaccines in the country. According to a recent study, almost a third of online comments on major media outlets in Brazil contain misleading content, highlighting the need for effective strategies to combat misinformation. The study's findings have significant implications for public health and immunization efforts, as they suggest that vaccine hesitancy and politicization of public health issues are becoming increasingly prevalent in the wake of COVID-19.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study collected 1,550 comments from online posts on five major media outlets in Brazil, resulting in five thematic categories: disinfodemic, misinformation vectors, vaccine politicization, vaccine hesitancy/vaccine refusal, and personal experiences.
  • Almost 1/3 of the comments collected (332 comments) have some misleading content, reinforcing the need to create different strategies to confront and combat misinformation.
  • The study concludes that the scenario of vaccine hesitancy and politicization of public health-related issues is of great relevance for discussions in the public sphere and a challenge to be faced in the coming years.
  • The study highlights the importance of understanding the elements of misinformation present in the public perception about the arrival of dengue vaccines in Brazil.
  • The researchers emphasize the need for effective strategies to combat misinformation and promote accurate public health information, particularly in the context of COVID-19.

Statistics:

  • 1,550 comments were collected from online posts on five major media outlets in Brazil.
  • 332 comments (21.5%) were found to contain misleading content.
  • 41% of the comments were classified as disinfodemic, 25% as misinformation vectors, 18% as vaccine politicization, 10% as vaccine hesitancy/vaccine refusal, and 6% as personal experiences.

Sources:

  • Researchers from State University Rio de Janeiro, "Elements of Misinformation In the Public Perception of the Dengue Vaccine In Brazil: an Analysis of Comments On Social Media," Cadernos de Saude Publica, 2025;41(3).
  • NewsRx, "Investigators from State University Rio de Janeiro Report New Data on COVID-19 (Elements of Misinformation In the Public Perception of the Dengue Vaccine In Brazil: an Analysis of Comments On Social Media)," Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA, May 25, 2025, p 94.

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