How Negative Expectations Can Affect the COVID-19 Vaccine: Study by Università di Bologna

A study conducted by researchers from the University of Bologna suggests that people’s negative expectations and attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine are significantly linked to the occurrence and intensity of the vaccine’s most common side effects- such as fatigue, headache, muscle pain, and injection site pain. The study, published in Psychological Science, investigated how the nocebo effect- the opposite of the placebo effect- can affect the adverse effects reported after vaccination. Beliefs about vaccines, fear, trust, and expectations, among other psychological variables, can explain up to 30% of the symptoms’ intensity. The study highlights the importance of building trust around COVID-19 vaccination and effective communication between health professionals, scientific institutions, governments, and the media. This will increase vaccine acceptance in the population, understanding of its essential benefits, and prevent nocebo effects. The study was published in Psychological Science.