Sentiment analysis of tweets about the COVID-19 vaccine in Spanish-speaking Ibero-American countries

Abstract

Introduction: This study evaluates the emotionality associated with vaccination against COVID-19 using the sentiment analysis technique of tweets in Spanish-speaking Ibero-American countries. Method: In January 2021 a mixed cross-sectional observational study of 41023 tweets from nine Spanish-speaking Ibero-American countries (Chile, El Salvador, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Spain) was carried out with a quantitative phase and analysis techniques of feelings based on artificial intelligence algorithms and a qualitative phase where an analysis of the discourse of the tweets whose emotionality was extremely positive and negative was carried out. Results: From the sentiment analysis of the tweets, it was observed that the countries present a negative emotionality associated with the vaccination against COVID-19, which could be attributed to mistrust towards the authorities and the efficacy or safety of the vaccines, according to the analysis of the discourse in the extremely negative emotionality tweets. Conclusions: Sentiment analysis techniques in combination with extreme emotionality discourse analysis made it possible to monitor negative opinions and their possible associated factors in vaccination against COVID-19 in the Ibero-American countries studied.