Lynn Group study on attitudes towards Strep A finds 32% of parents believe vaccines are responsible for rise in infections
Behavioural science and misinformation consultancy Lynn has released data on the ongoing misinformation narratives around Strep A in the UK.
Lynn surveyed 626 respondents by parental status from across the UK on the 6th-7th of December to identify what information was reaching parents and whether accurate health information was reaching them. The data points to parents being exposed to misinformation narratives around Strep A, and narratives are resonating with them.
Key findings include:
- 49% of parents believe the jury is still out as to whether there’s a link between nasal flu vaccines and Strep A
- 32% agree that Covid-19 and flu vaccines are partly responsible for an increase in Strep A infections
- 28% of parents believe that Strep A is being used to cover up something else
- 33% of parents believe that increasing migration and refugee numbers is to blame for the increase in Strep A infections
- Only 15% of parents surveyed disagreed with the belief that COVID-19 lockdowns harmed their child’s immune system.
With demonstrably high levels of awareness and anxiety surrounding Strep A – only 3% of parents were not aware of increasing infections and over a quarter, 26% to be exact, were extremely concerned – the environment is ripe to perpetuate harmful misinformation.
Stefan Rollnick, Head of The Misinformation Cell at Lynn said: “Our numbers show that there is a large amount of understandable anxiety among UK parents about Strep A – and whenever there is anxiety there is a risk of misinformation spreading.
It’s important that we understand parents’ fears and questions, and don’t demonise them. We know that health authorities around the country are working desperately to get accurate information out to parents as soon as they can, and this is absolutely vital if we are going to build up their resilience. Disinformation swindlers are always looking to use any opportunity to spread conspiracy theories and division, and Strep A is no different.”
Shayoni Lynn, CEO said: “We at Lynn know that getting the right information out, at the right time, in the right way is vital. In this instance, our aim is always to support our health system colleagues and parents in navigating this difficult time. To that end, our research demonstrates the importance of addressing misinformation. Without inoculating audiences from harmful misinformation, especially at times of peak health concern for vulnerable age groups such as those affected by Strep A we could be facing not just a health crisis but confidence in our healthcare system also, which coming off the back of COVID-19 is not something we believe anyone wishes to perpetuate.”
About Lynn
Powered by behavioural science, Lynn is a full-service communications consultancy which delivers positive behaviour change at scale and protects informed behaviours from misinformation. With end-to-end communications campaign management, research, experimentation and evaluation – all powered by behavioural science, and protected from misinformation – our practices, Lynn Planet, Lynn Health and Lynn Change effectively blend strategic communications with a deep understanding of human behaviour, innovation and creativity, to create the change needed.
