Double trouble: COVID-19 vaccine misinformation amidst conflict in Ukraine

Abstract

Abstract: The repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic have presented valuable insights into new public health challenges which were once difficult to recognize. At the core of this strenuous public health emergency, lies a dire urgency to prioritize effective therapeutic interventions - namely vaccines, surveillance programs, and public awareness measures. Particularly in the midst of a digital era fueled by misinformation and ongoing conflicts [1]. On the 24th of February earlier this year, Ukraine was embattled by recurrent conflicts with Russia, its neighboring country; exacerbating the number of people potentially affected by this humanitarian crisis and causing profound destruction to medical institutions which encompass the cornerstone of treatment for many patients affected with COVID-19 [2]. Additionally, there have been increasing concerns of a significant decline in COVID-19 testing since the beginning of this conflict, suggesting that undetected transmission is occurring at a much higher rate than previously reported.