AstraZeneca Vaccine Controversies in the Media: Theorizing About the Mediatization of Ignorance in the Context of the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign

• Published in: Health communication Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 541 - 551
• Main Authors: Sendra, Anna, Torkkola, Sinikka, Parviainen, Jaana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 01.03.2024; Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 Vaccines - therapeutic use; Humans; Ignorance; Immunization; Immunization Programs; Pandemics; Uncertainty; Vaccination; Vaccines
• ISSN: 1041-0236; 1532-7027; 1532-7027
• DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2171951

As is the case in other situations of deep uncertainty, the unknowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic have aroused a great deal of attention in the media. Drawing insights both from mediatization theory and ignorance studies, we discuss the coverage of the AstraZeneca vaccine controversies to develop a new concept that we call the mediatization of ignorance. In doing so, we conceptualize the procedure through which unknowns become mediatized as a three-step process that results from a combination of logics from the areas of politics, health, and science/industry. Moreover, we argue that the mediatization of ignorance may have promoted vaccine hesitancy at a moment when vaccination was crucial for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. We conclude by suggesting the need to explore in further detail the role that ignorance plays not only in the management of the COVID-19 crisis but also in different areas of society.