How to address vaccine misinformation, support uptake across Australia and the need for investment in school-based vaccination and information-literacy programs are the key focus of a new policy brief by researchers at The University of Western Australia.
Published by UWA’s Public Policy Institute in collaboration with the VaxPol Lab, Tackling Misinformation & Disinformation to Reduce Vaccine Hesitancy brings together researchers in public policy, vaccination and psychology to examine how governments and health systems can respond to declining vaccination coverage and support public confidence in immunisation.
Australia’s immunisation program has helped protect communities from a range of vaccine-preventable diseases. However, declining vaccination uptake in recent years has raised concerns about the risk of outbreaks and the need to maintain public confidence in vaccines.
The policy brief considers the role misinformation and disinformation can play in shaping people’s attitudes towards vaccination, as well as the broader systems and services that support people to access vaccines.
Lead author and UWA VaxPol Lab researcher Katie Attwell said maintaining confidence in vaccination required a coordinated approach across government, healthcare and education.
“Vaccination education in schools offers an opportunity to combine knowledge with critical thinking,” Professor Attwell said.
“Helping young people understand both the science of vaccination and how to assess health claims can better prepare them for the public health challenges of the future.”
The brief recommends strengthening Australia’s vaccination infrastructure and supporting healthcare professionals to have effective conversations with people who have questions or concerns about vaccines.
“People need and deserve clear, trustworthy information about vaccination,” Professor Attwell said.
“Supporting healthcare professionals to have those conversations is one of the most important investments we can make in vaccine confidence because they are trusted.”