Why you see COVID-19 vaccination selfies on Facebook and Twitter

Jon Chapman does not turn into a mutant. The 38-year-old medical laboratory scientist from Iowa City received for the first time COVID-19 vaccination the Monday before Christmas, and apart from a sore arm, he feels well.

Since then he has not grown a tail, he has no scales and so far there is no sign of wings. He wanted his friends and family to know.

So he took a photo that posted it on Facebook.

“I really felt the message had to be out there that people you know, people you trust, your friends, your family members get the vaccine,” Chapman said. “It’s safe. It’s effective. It’s a good thing for yourself, and it’s a good thing for society at large.”

Chapman is far from alone. Open up Instagram, Twitter or Facebook these days, and you’ll probably see photos of people, rolled up in masks with their sleeves, pinned in the arm or sticking up small rectangles of paper with their vaccination information.

Some post the photos in hopes of opening a dialogue with followers questioning the vaccine. Others just want to share a moment that lies ahead, a symbol of the hope that one day life may return to a degree of normalcy.

How can we thank the health workers and scientists for their sacrifice and service? Receive the vaccine as soon as you can to reduce their load and wear a mask to protect fellow citizens. In my 80th year, I am grateful and hopeful for better days ahead. pic.twitter.com/emGDlnYL2E

– Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) 22 January 2021

The photos come from all over the world – from the US to England, Morocco on Jordaan. Famous faces even come into the trend, including Patrick Stewart, Anthony Hopkins, Martha Stewart, Bill Gates, Joan Collins, and Sean Penn, as well as political leaders such as President Joe Biden and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Keep an eye on the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the fact that COVID-19 has killed more than 400,000 people in the U.S. alone, according to Johns Hopkins, not everyone wants to roll up their sleeves.

In a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, only 71% said they would definitely get the vaccine. Remaining respondents said they probably would not either definitely will not be vaccinated, citing reasons such as side effects, and concerns that the vaccine is too new and that the government cannot ensure its safety. However, it is important to get people vaccinated. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a 100-year-old medical center responsible for breakthroughs such as coronary artery bypass surgery, approximately 50% to 80% of the population must be vaccinated to reach the herd’s immunity threshold. Herd immunity is the idea that spread of the disease is less likely if a certain percentage of the population becomes immune, even for those who have not yet been vaccinated.

Meanwhile, misinformation about vaccines has been circulating for years. But while false information can feel like a toothpaste-in-the-tube-not-again-in-the-tube situation, some people hope that doing something as simple as posting a vaccination photo can help .

Place hope

While it is almost impossible to measure the impact that a wave of vaccination selfies can have on public opinion, there is reason to believe that it may help.

First, there is the concept of social proof. Think of it this way: if you saw two restaurants and one was empty and the other was packed, you would at least in pre-COVID times assume that the busy business was the best option.

‘People say social comparison [is] bad, but it’s actually an evolutionary tool to make sure we can navigate through our social environments, “said Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center. If we did not pay attention to what other people were doing, we would die. ”

Seeing that many people do something can indicate that it is socially acceptable. And people know it.

‘People who do not trust large organizations’ such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Food and Drug Administration’, trust their friend along the way, or they trust their doctor who has seen them for 30 years, and they may trust them best friend from elementary school, “34-year-old Anna Hartman, a registered dietitian-nutritionist from Louisville, Kentucky, posted a photo of her vaccination card.

The CDC also seems to have some understanding of this. The organization offers a communication device on its website, which contains downloadable posters and stickers with things like tips on social distance. There are also examples for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as to why the vaccine would be crucial in stopping the spread of the virus.

This toolkit motivated 62-year-old nurse Sue DeNisco of Stamford, Connecticut, to post. The community health center where she works has sent an email urging people to take a photo of a poster after receiving the vaccine and posting it.

“It’s going to be a challenge to get people vaccinated … and I think social media is a way to spread the word, whether it’s by health care workers or just the general population,” DeNisco said.

One of the big takeaways for Hartman: whether it’s online or not, some people just need a safe space to air their worries and questions.

This can be particularly difficult at a time when even the simple act of a mask can be seen as a political statement.

Jeremy, a 34-year-old pharmacist from Nashville who asked to be identified only by his first name, decided to post his vaccination record, but wanted to make sure his followers understood that he was not making a political statement. . His message encouraged friends and family to make their own decisions, informed by evidence and research.

“I think it’s an opportunity to see … health workers who have confidence in the science that is being produced, and the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine,” he said, noting that science, regardless of politics, can talk. .

The limits of placement

This does not mean that enough posts on social media will change the thinking of every skeptic.

There are obstacles to contend with, said Paul Booth, professor of media and film studies / digital communication and media art at DePaul University in Chicago. Many social media users live in an echo chamber.

” Groups of people who are not in favor of vaccinations may not see [the photos] because they are sitting in their own little bubble people who all agree with them, or the algorithms that control what we see [social media] they will not show it because they are not dealing with people with whom they do not agree, “Booth said.” And yet he thinks there is a positive potential.

I’m a happy man. Happy to work with the@LAFDand our wonderful front line@CoreResponsestaff, our partners at Carbon Health, USC, & Curative Lab. We test and vaccinate thousands every day. We need your support to make more people happy. SMS CORE to 707070 to donate. pic.twitter.com/VeCgAC7hMR

– Sean Penn (@SeanPenn) 26 January 2021

Back in Iowa City, Chapman had more than a few conversations with his sister-in-law about the vaccine. She grew up in a household that did not believe in vaccines, and although she does not necessarily feel the same, the long-established fear is hard to shake.

He therefore remains patient and respectful and answers the questions she has.

‘You can tell her data all day and every day,’ he said, ‘but it’s very different if it’s your brother-in-law … talking to you, and I have a picture on Facebook and we have a had conversation. And I said, ‘Yeah, I got it. Yes, I trust it. I’m not afraid of that. ‘

The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.