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Table 2 Specification of the annotation categories

From: Monitoring stance towards vaccination in twitter messages

Category type

Category

Definition

Example tweet (translated from Dutch)

Relevance

Relevant

If the message is about (information about) human vaccination or expresses an opinion about human vaccination.

"By the way I do not accuse people who are against vaccination. It is just that they should not imply that the measles are so harmless."

 

Relevant abroad

If the message is relevant and is about an event related to vaccination or an outbreak of vaccine preventable disease that happens abroad.

"Have you seen the Danish detective on chronic fatigue after HPV-vaccination?"

 

Irrelevant

If the message is not about human vaccination.

"Lethal virus has been fatal to at least twelve rabbits in Hellevoetsluis. Veterinarians sound the alarm: get inoculation #ADRD #VoornePutten"

Subject

Vaccine

If the message contains an expression about the vaccine.

"Rutte: pastors please encourage inoculation measles"

 

Disease

If the message contains an expression about the disease.

"I am not happy. I have the chickenpox, which is not in the governmental vaccination program."

 

Vaccine and disease

If the message contains an expression about both the vaccine and disease.

"I think the whooping-cough disease is rather significant, too bad the vaccine does not have much effect."

Stance

Positive

If one is positive with regard to vaccination and/or believes the vaccine preventable disease is severe.

"To inoculate against the measles is at least better than not inoculating. The reformed church is also divided about this."

 

Negative

If one is negative towards vaccination and/or believes the vaccine preventable disease is not severe.

"Did you ever check the number of casualties as a result of vaccination? Now those are really in vain. One does not die from #measles"

 

Neutral

If one takes a neutral stance towards vaccination and if one only wants to inform others.

"[anonymized name] : inoculating at home #measles at #refo’s"

 

Not clear

If from the message it is not clear whether one is positive or negative, if both polarities are present, or if the message is about a related topic such as information about vaccination.

"Facts and opinions related to #HPV vaccination: why is it almost impossible to find them on the website of #RIVM?"

Sentiment

Informative

If one wants to inform others.

"GGGD_Utrecht: Today the GG&GD will start vaccinating all 9-year olds against DTP and BMR. This applies to 3395 kids in Utrecht!"

 

Anger, frustration

If one is angry about people who vaccinate or do not vaccinate.

"Measles epidemic in the #biblebelt. Incomprehensible that the love for God can be greater than the love for one’s own child."

 

Worry, fear, doubts

If one is worried about side-effects of the vaccine or about the severity of the disease; if one has doubts to vaccinate.

"I will watch zorg.nu in a bit. This time I am doubtful once more as to whether I should have my youngest daughter inoculated against cervical cancer."

 

Relieved

If one is relieved that the vaccination has been administered or that he/she recovered from the disease.

"I am happy that the vaccination is over with."

 

Other

If one expresses another sentiment than those mentioned above, such as humor, sarcasm (see example), personal experience, question raised, or minimized risks.

"What a genius idea of the doctor to vaccinate me for yellow fever, polio, meningitis, and hepatitis A, all in once! Bye bye weekend.. "