TO THE EDITOR:
 
We would like to discuss a study called “Factors underlying denial of and disbelief in COVID-19,” which looks into what influences or encourages doubt and unfavorable opinions concerning COVID-19.(1) In that study, the authors point out that a number of steps must be taken to promote vaccination and to reduce instances of denial and skepticism regarding COVID-19, and that governments should put in place a number of strategies to control the disease, while taking into consideration the psychological and social ramifications of those policies.(1)
 
In order to increase immunization rates and provide doubters with reliable information, it is essential to increase public confidence in authorities, experts, and scientists. For a variety of reasons, local COVID-19 control efforts may encounter support or opposition. The most noteworthy of those reasons is apprehension about vaccination, which has been linked to mistrust of the local health care system.(2) The willingness of a person to support public health initiatives depends on how much they trust their local public health response to a crisis.
 
How much a person trusts their local public health response to a crisis determines how ready they are to adhere to public health measures for disease epidemic management during the COVID-19 pandemic.(3) There is proof that people’s attitudes toward vaccination vary based on their background and environment. People’s decisions seem to change as their local environment changes. It is essential to comprehend the sad events that followed. To that end, the impacts of COVID-19 vaccination, local public health measures against COVID-19, and varying local epidemic stages should all be investigated using a longitudinal study design.
 
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
 
None declared.
 
REFERENCES
 
1.            Vasilopoulos A, Pantelidaki NA, Tzoura A, Papadopoulou D, Stilliani K, Paralikas T, et al. Factors underlying denial of and disbelief in COVID-19. J Bras Pneumol. 2022;48(5):e20220228. https://doi.org/10.36416/1806-3756/e20220228
2.            Sookaromdee P, Wiwanitkit V. Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy: Correspondence. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2022;2085471. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2022.2085471
3.            Mungmunpuntipantip R, Wiwanitkit V. COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy. Recenti Prog Med. 2021;112(9):596. https://doi.org/10.1701/3658.36425