Socio-cultural values in managing risk communication during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia

AbstractThe significant factors influencing the perception of the public towards the “risk” concept are cultural values, social and traditional beliefs that form public views towards risk situations. Taking the cue from previous research on risk communication management in Asia, the present study discusses how administrative regional governments such as Surabaya City and the East Java Provincial authorities in Indonesia have conceptualized risk management. It pertains to how risk, particularly the COVID-19 vaccine, is assessed, regulated, and controlled in these places. Since communication and guidelines regarding the vaccine play an important role in any stage of risk management processes. This study thus aims to examine and analyze how risk communication management protocols and model have been understood through evidence-based and theory-informed research as an assessment form of the existing model and regulations. It also attempts to contribute to the risk-informed policymaking by the regional government and provides recommendations for the development of risk communication management and the preparation to manage the COVID-19 vaccine risk issues for the public, which has not been studied yet by scholars in this province and in Indonesia in general.