“What is the problem with vaccines?” A typology of religious vaccine skepticism
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Conceptual typology and theoretical framework without empirical testing (Level 5 by design analogy)
OpenAlex W4383532397 · doi:10.1016/j.jvacx.2023.100349
What was done
The author developed a conceptual typology to categorize and distinguish explicit religious objections and skepticism influencing vaccination delay or refusal based on theoretical analysis of religious rationales.
What was found
The abstract provides no quantitative data or empirical metrics. It defines five primary types of religious vaccine skepticism: (1) worldview clash, where vaccination does not align with health beliefs; (2) divine will, reflecting passive fatalism; (3) immorality, viewing vaccines as unethical due to production methods or effects; (4) impurity, asserting that ingredients defile the body; and (5) conspiracy, viewing vaccination programs as plots targeting religious groups.
Why it matters
This typology provides public health communicators and policymakers with a structured framework to differentiate distinct religious objections and tailor engagement strategies accordingly.
Limits
The abstract reports no empirical dataset, sample size, systematic search strategy, or real-world validation of how frequently these categories occur or how effectively interventions addressing them improve vaccine uptake.
Cited by
- context All major world religions officially hold that receiving vaccines is doctrinally permissible.