Abstract

The recent studies focusing on the positions expressed by Anti-vaxxers highlight the complexity of the reasons that guide the choice not to get vaccinated. This contribution aims at discussing the results obtained through a panel web survey, carried out in two research appointments (Spring 2020-2021). The survey made it possible to reconstruct the dynamics of choice linked to the vaccination area, with particular regard to Anti-vaxxers. The recorded responses flow into three main social types: 1) the «negationist», who does not believe in the severity of the disease/in the existence of Covid-19 and who questions the efficacy of vaccines; 2) the «distrustful-fearful», who is worried about the possible repercussions of the vaccine on his-her health, in the short and long term; 3) the «conformist», who approaches vaccination in an unconvincing way, by a forced and uninformed choice, sometimes because of a social desiderability mechanism. The longitudinal study has also made it possible to identify the latent dimensions underlying the decision not to vaccinate and has suggested the construction of synthetic indexes aimed at understanding any changes in status ‒ on a cognitive, emotional, active level ‒ between one survey and the next. These aspects (states of mind; information styles; evaluations of government actions; trust in expert knowledge) lend themselves to further study through a qualitative approach.