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The COVID-19 Infodemic: Mechanism, Impact, and Counter-Measures—A Review of Reviews

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  • Markus Ries

    (Pediatric Neurology and Metabolic Medicine, Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 430, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
    Center for Virtual Patients, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, INF 430, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany)

Abstract

The acceptability of appropriate SARS-CoV-2 pandemic measures including vaccinations is currently being hampered due to significant misinformation all over the globe, also known as the “infodemic” within the pandemic. We asked the following two research questions: (1) What is the current extent of the global infodemic preventing populations from receiving adequate healthcare including COVID-vaccinations? (2) Which are appropriate countermeasures to manage the infodemic in order to guarantee adequate healthcare in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic? Pubmed and Cochrane Library were accessed on 29 October 2021 and searched for reviews and systematic reviews on “COVID-19” and “infodemic”. The literature identified was analyzed with methods of qualitative research focusing on (1) mechanism, (2) impact, and (3) countermeasures to confront the infodemic. The world-wide infodemic is being recognized as a multifaceted problem beyond health and human rights, extending into global political spheres such as societal cohesion and security. The mechanism of the COVID-19 infodemic involves specific factors related to the situation, sender, instrument, and recipient. Although freedom of expression and the right to seek, receive, and impart information through any media is a fundamental human right, the infodemic has a substantial impact on health, another fundamental human right, by causing stress, deception, violence, and harm. Mixed-synergistic pre-impact, trans-impact, and post-impact countermeasures can be taken; the most important is building and maintaining trust.

Suggested Citation

  • Markus Ries, 2022. "The COVID-19 Infodemic: Mechanism, Impact, and Counter-Measures—A Review of Reviews," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-13, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:5:p:2605-:d:757037
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    1. Paul T E Cusack, 2020. "On Pain," Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, Biomedical Research Network+, LLC, vol. 31(3), pages 24253-24254, October.
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    1. Smiljana Cvjetkovic & Vida Jeremic Stojkovic & Stefan Mandic-Rajcevic & Sanja Matovic-Miljanovic & Janko Jankovic & Aleksandra Jovic Vranes & Aleksandar Stevanovic & Zeljka Stamenkovic, 2022. "Societal Trust Related to COVID-19 Vaccination: Evidence from Western Balkans," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-11, October.
    2. Sahabi Kabir Sulaiman & Muhammad Sale Musa & Fatimah Isma’il Tsiga-Ahmed & Abdulwahab Kabir Sulaiman & Abdulaziz Tijjani Bako, 2024. "A systematic review and meta-analysis of the global prevalence and determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and uptake in people living with HIV," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 100-114, January.

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