Abstract
In this article, we analyze the interactional processes in anti-vaccine groups on Telegram in Brazil. Using descriptors associated with the vaccine topic and vaccine criticism, we identified seven groups that addressed the vaccine issue from January to March 2021, the first months of vaccination against Covid-19 in Brazil. Using the Grounded Theory method, we conducted a qualitative analysis of the conversations held in the studied groups. The results show that these interactions are centered around three main axes that reveal: 1) the formation of a sense of community, involving processes of mutual aid, recognition of peers, deliberations about the group and the anti-vaccine network, testimonials, and emotional support; 2) the process of elaborating an identity marked out by difference in relation to alterity; 3) the management of hesitancy and dissent processes, which can result in group ruptures. The understanding of these processes, from the perspective of the Brazilian context, aims to contribute to the development of strategies to combat misinformation regarding health and vaccines.
Keywords
Telegram; vaccines; interactional processes; Covid-19