Table 2 Code list and Identified Topic Themes
Code Name | Code number | Description | Number of Post | Upvote number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
(A) Trial Participation | ||||
(A-1) People Enrolled | (A-1-a) | Comments concerning the safety of the trial | 44 | 46 |
(A-1-b) | Cost vs. benefits of staying in the trial after a vaccine has already been approved | 9 | 4 | |
(A-1-c) | Sharing the reasons for volunteering for a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial | 27 | 140 | |
(A-1-d) | Sharing or asking participants about experiences including side effects and transparency of the trial data | 61 | 117 | |
(A-1-e) | Sharing COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial information (knowledge – educate other users about knowledge related to a clinical trial) | 61 | 276 | |
(A-1-f) | Discussing whether participants will be able to get vaccinated when a vaccine is approved | 36 | 67 | |
(A-2) People Who Want to Participate | (A-2-a) | Seeking or sharing volunteer opportunities (location, website) | 27 | 106 |
(A-2-b) | Discussing the willingness or unwillingness of participating in a clinical trial and reasons (pediatric opportunities, not willing to participate) | 226 | 422 | |
(B) Clinical Trial Design/ Process/ Result | ||||
(B-1) Length of Trial | (B-1-a) | Discussing the time period of one or more clinical trials being too long | 12 | 12 |
(B-1-b) | Discussing the period of one or more clinical trial not being long enough | 6 | 12 | |
(B-2) Eligibility of Trial | (B-2-a) | Discussing topics about trial participant representation (self-selection bias, how they are selected, number of participants) | 59 | 123 |
(B-2-b) | Discussing health condition representation (comorbid conditions, pregnancy) | 14 | 21 | |
(B-2-c) | Discussing different age representation in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials (kids/elderly can’t participate) | 42 | 253 | |
(B-2-d) | Discussing the racial representation of COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials | 11 | 283 | |
(B-3) Trial Mechanism | (B-3-a) | Discussing about how efficacy is proven based on the design of the trial (e.g., participants not exposed to virus in trial, how often participants get tested, how to test long-term immunity) | 163 | 445 |
(B-3-b) | Discussing the mechanism of developing the COVID-19 vaccine (Pros and cons of mRNA vaccine, the use of electroporation, why use of placebo) | 151 | 694 | |
(B-3-c) | Discussing topics about COVID-19 emergency use authorization on the design of the trial (fast-track) | 83 | 274 | |
(B-3-d) | Discussing trial regulations/processes (e.g., double blind, triple blind, process for pausing trial, regulatory agency) | 175 | 770 | |
(B-4) Trial Stage | (B-4-a) | Discussing current trial phase (e.g., pause about COVID-19 vaccine trial) | 537 | 1514 |
(B-5) Result of Trial | (B-5-a) | Discussing the general safety of an approved vaccine (if the result of trial can be trust, if the vaccine is safe for teens/kids) | 247 | 25,782 |
(B-5-b) | Discussing clinical trials in other countries (e.g., can results of other countries be trusted -Russia, China, India) | 189 | 1909 | |
(B-5-c) | Discussing topics about the efficacy in trial results | 97 | 264 | |
(B-5-d) | Discussing topics regarding whether regulations have been followed at trial completion | 160 | 665 | |
(B-5-e) | Sharing/ discussing about purported vaccine-related safety issues and long-term effects | 39 | 127 | |
(B-5-f) | Discussing the necessity of vaccines, refusal of vaccines, vaccine hesitancy, alternative therapy | 6 | 8 | |
(B-5-g) | Discussing or comparing trial results among all different companies | 55 | 492 | |
(B-5-h) | Discussion of topics related to vaccine manufacturer | 5 | 9 | |