Discourse Strategies of Negotiating Scam in COVID-19 Vaccines Discourse.

In the global effort to combat COVID-19, governments developed vaccines to safeguard their populations and enhance immunity. Despite these efforts, a significant portion of the public perceived the vaccination campaign as a harmful scam rather than a protective measure. This study investigates the discourse strategies employed by commenters on two Facebook posts from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and UNICEF Nigeria. Analysing 4,000 Facebook comments through Hyland’s stance and engagement theory, the research sheds light on the specific linguistic angles scholars have explored in COVID-19 discourse, particularly focusing on vaccine-related linguistic studies. The findings reveal that the stance taken by many Nigerians against vaccine dissemination is influenced by factors such as anger over looted palliatives during the lockdown, religious beliefs, and unverified reports fueled by media conspiracy theories. The study concludes by highlighting the need for proactive measures by key stakeholders to sensitise the Nigerian population and avert potential crises.