Keeping you posted: analysis of fertility-related social media posts after introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine

Abstract

Purpose

Our objective was to analyse information and sentiments posted regarding the COVID-19 vaccine on fertility-related social media.

Materials and Methods

The first fifty accounts on Instagram and Twitter were identified with the terms: fertility doctor, fertility, OBGYN, infertility, TTC, IVF. Accounts were categorised as physician (PH), individual (ID), or fertility center/organisation (FCO). The vaccine was approved on 12/11/2020 and Instagram and Twitter posts dated 12/1/2020 − 2/28/2021 were reviewed. Posts were analysed for sentiment, mention of research studies (RS), national guidelines (NG), personal experience (PE), side effects (SE), reproductive related (RR) content and activity, including likes and comments.

Results

A total of 276 accounts were included. Sentiments towards the vaccine were largely positive (PH 90.3%, ID 71.4%, FCO 70%), or neutral (PH 9.7%, ID 28.6%, FCO 30%). Instagram accounts showed an increase in activity on vaccine posts compared to baseline by likes (PH 4.86% v 3.76%*, ID 7.5% v 6.37%*, FCO 2.49% v 0.52%*) and comments (PH 0.35% v 0.28%, ID 0.90% v 0.69%,* FCO 0.10% v 0.02%*).

Conclusion

Most posts expressed positive sentiments towards the vaccine. Evaluating the sentiment of the COVID-19 vaccine as it relates to fertility on social media represents an opportunity for understanding both the patient’s and health care professional’s opinion on the subject. Given the potential devastating effects of misinformation on public health parameters, like vaccination, social media offers one avenue for healthcare professionals to engage online and work to make their presences more effective and influential.

SHORT CONDENSATION

• This article analyses content and sentiments posted regarding the COVID-19 vaccine on fertility-related social media in order to offer a deeper understanding of available information and beliefs.

摘要

目的:我们的目的是分析生育相关社交媒体上发布的关于COVID-19疫苗的信息和情绪。

材料和方法:Instagram和Twitter上的前50个账号被识别为以下词汇:fertility doctor, fertility, OBGYN, infertility, TTC, IVF。账户分为医生(PH)、个人(ID)或生育中心/组织(FCO)。该疫苗于2020年12月11日获批, 并对日期为2020年12月1日和2021年2月28日的Instagram和Twitter帖子进行了审查。对帖子的情绪、提及研究(RS)、国家指南(NG)、个人经历(PE)、副作用(SE)、生殖相关(RR)内容和活动进行分析, 包括点赞和评论。

结果:共纳入276个账户。对疫苗的总体支持(PH 90.3%, ID 71.4%, FCO 70%)或者中立(PH 9.7%, ID 28.6%, FCO 30%)为主。Instagram账号显示, 与基线相比, 疫苗帖子的活跃度 (PH 4.86% v 3.76%, ID 7.5% v 6.37%, FCO 2.49% v 0.52%)和评论(PH 0.35% v 0.28%, ID 0.90% v 0.69%, FCO 0.10% v 0.02%)均增加。

结论:大多数帖子对疫苗表达了积极的态度。在社交媒体上评估COVID-19疫苗与生育相关的情绪, 为了解患者和医务人员对这一主题的看法提供了一个机会。鉴于错误信息对疫苗接种等公共卫生参数的潜在破坏性影响, 社交媒体为医务人员提供了一个在线参与和工作的途径, 以使他们的存在更有效和更有影响力。

小结：本文分析了生育相关社交媒体上发布的关于COVID-19疫苗的内容和情绪, 以便对现有的信息和信念提供更深入的理解。

Keywords:

• Fertility
• infertility
• social media
• vaccine
• assisted reproductive technology
• IVF
• sentiment

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).