Vaccine Misinformation

What are the ramifications of the Anti-Vaccination Movement?

Vaccines are an incredible advancement made in the science and public health field. There is countless research and evidence that shows the effectiveness of vaccines. Despite this, there has been a rising number of measles outbreaks and of several other infectious diseases throughout the US due to a rising number of people who are against vaccination. This group of people have been termed the “anti-vaxxer’s” and it is believed that they choose to not receive vaccinations, because of the mis-information they learn about via social media. Those who choose not to vaccinate themselves or their children have likely failed to realize that their actions have repercussions. Many in the US do get vaccinated, however, those who do not are putting those who cannot get vaccinated (such as infants) at risk of getting an infectious disease.

How can people working in the healthcare system help avoid misinformation?

Research has shown that approximately 75-80% who use the internet seek out health-related information online. Additionally, 70% of those users say that the health-related information they encounter online influences their medical decisions. This is distressing due to the fact that a large amount of health information found on the internet is not very credible. One way this issue can be combated is through good relationships between health-care workers and their patients. Specifically nurses, who can work to provide credible information about the importance of getting vaccinated as well as how important it for protection of others who cannot get vaccinated.

Anti-vaccination and Outbreaks of Infectious Diseases

The World Health Organization found that approximately 1.5 million children die every year because of diseases that could have been prevented with a vaccine. The fact that there are so many vaccines that have been shown to be effective are taken for granted is astonishing to me. This lack of vaccination has in recent years caused several measles outbreaks in the US and Europe. A measles outbreak in 2017 in Italy, along with large decrease in child vaccination rates prompted the Italian government to require vaccination for all children up to the age of sixteen. This mandate sparked conversation about the potential outcome of a permanent vaccination requirement on vaccination rates and vaccination uncertainty. This anti-vaccination movement again leads back to the misinformation that people receive about the dangers of vaccines. In order to avoid more outbreaks of infectious diseases and to protect the immunocompromised who cannot get vaccinated, people should get vaccinated.