IMPACTS OF FAKE NEWS AND MISINFORMATION IN THE CONTEXT OF IMMUNIZATION IN BRAZIL

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the impacts of fake news and misinformation in the context of immunization in Brazil, considering their influence on the population’s adherence to vaccination campaigns. The methodology consisted of an integrative literature review, guided by the following research question: how does the dissemination of fake news and misinformation affect the adherence of the Brazilian population to immunizations? Searches were conducted in the PubMed, LILACS, and Medline databases, using the descriptors “Vaccines,” “Misinformation,” and “Brazil,” combined with the Boolean operator AND. Articles published in Portuguese between 2020 and 2025 that directly addressed the proposed question were included. Duplicated studies, publications in other languages, incomplete works, and non-scientific materials were excluded. The results show that misinformation, intensified by social networks and the context of political polarization, contributed to the growth of vaccine hesitancy in the country. This phenomenon negatively impacted vaccination coverage, weakened immunization campaigns, favored outbreaks of preventable diseases, and increased public distrust of science. It is concluded that addressing vaccine hesitancy requires the strengthening of educational strategies, the promotion of clear health communication, and the effective engagement of professionals.