Health literacy in the Czech Republic and Slovakia is quite high, but people are less confident when it comes to evaluating information related to vaccines – especially information that circulates in the media. A series of CEDMO surveys conducted from the end of 2023 through mid 2025 revealed this trend. A lower level of confidence in specific health-related matters makes it easier for misinformation to reach more people and cause them to believe it. People in both countries are generally less confident in vaccine-related health information than in general health information.
Throughout 2026, fact-checking organizations in the CEDMO consortium identified multiple vaccine-related false narratives that questioned their safety and effectiveness. Among the most common ones were claims that the Covid-19 vaccine contains heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and DNA, as well as claims that vaccination causes cancer, heart attacks, infertility, strokes, and overall higher mortality. Some narratives also targeted the HPV vaccine, despite extensive research proving its effectiveness and safety.
After the Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in Spring 2026, there were multiple claims circulating online that the virus was a side effect of the Covid-19 vaccine, and that the disease was purposefully released to the public. There were also claims on Czech social media platforms that parents who refused childhood vaccination would be entered into a government registry.
CEDMO consortium fact-checkers found no evidence to support these claims. The documentation that the posts are accusing of being a government registry for anti-vaccination parents is only used to record that a physician has informed the parents of vaccination being an option, and not the decision of the parents.
Vaccine disinformation continuously reaches significant portions of Czech and Slovak populations, especially in Slovakia. A false claim that the WHO and European Union pandemic treaty would allow mandatory vaccination and quarantines was encountered by 10% of respondents in Czechia and 23% in Slovakia. Despite its falsehood, 31% of Czech respondents and 35% of Slovak respondents considered the claim at least somewhat trustworthy.
Similarly, a false narrative linking COVID-19 vaccination to “turbo cancer” in Canada was seen by 10% of respondents in Czechia and 17% in Slovakia, and 25% of Czech and 31% of Slovak respondents found it credible. Claims that the Japanese government had admitted COVID-19 vaccines caused cancer, heart attacks, and strokes reached 10% of Czech respondents and 14% of Slovaks, with credibility rates of 24% and 31%, respectively.
Health literacy rates in both Czechia and Slovakia are relatively high, with 77% of respondents in Czechia and 73% in Slovakia rating managing daily health tasks as relatively easy. Following a doctor’s instructions seemed to be even easier, with 90% of Czech respondents and 83% of Slovak respondents reporting little difficulty. However, when it came to evaluating health information, the number of people who found it easy decreased.
Only 57% of respondents in Czechia and 54% in Slovakia found it easy to assess whether health information presented in the media was reliable. Vaccination-related decisions were also comparatively more difficult. 77% of Czech respondents and 71% of Slovak respondents declaredit is easy to understand why vaccination is necessary. However, 73% in Czechia and 62% in Slovakia found it easy to determine which vaccinations they might need, marking a bit of a lower confidence rate.
Similar rates were observed for finding reliable information about vaccines and recommended medical checkups, with 71% of Czech respondents and 70% of Slovak respondents reporting that it was easy. Additionally, 70% of respondents in Czechia and 69% in Slovakia found it easy to decide whether to receive the seasonal flu vaccine.
Author: Martyna Kluczyńska