scholarly journals Quantifying The Effect of Wakefield et al. (1998) on Skepticism about MMR Vaccine Safety in the U.S.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt Motta ◽  
Dominik Stecula
Keyword(s):  
Media Coverage ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
Mmr Vaccine ◽  
Media Attention ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Childhood Vaccine

Background. Efforts to trace the rise of childhood vaccine safety concerns in the US often suggest Andrew Wakefield and colleagues’ retracted 1998 Lancet study (AW98) – which alleged that the MMR vaccine can cause children to develop autism – as a primary cause of US vaccine skepticism. However, a lack of public opinion data on MMR safety collected before/after AW98’s publication obscures whether anecdotal accounts are indicative of a potentially-causal effect. Methods. We address this problem using a regression discontinuity framework to study change in monthly MMR injury claims (N = 74,850; from 1990-2019) from the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) to proxy concern about vaccine safety. Additionally, we suggest a potential mechanism for the effect of AW98 on vaccine skepticism, via automated sentiment analyses of MMR-related news stories (N = 674; from 1996-2000) in major television and newspaper outlets. Results. AW98 led to an immediate increase of about 70 MMR injury claims cases per month, averaging across six estimation strategies (meta-analytic effect = 70.44 [52.19, 88.75], p < 0.01). Preliminary evidence suggests that the volume of negative media attention to MMR increased in the weeks following AW98’s publication, across four estimation strategies (meta-analytic effect = 9.59% [3.66, 15.51], p < 0.01).Conclusions. Vaccine skepticism increased following the publication of AW98, which was potentially made possible by increased negative media coverage of MMR. Significance. Childhood vaccine skepticism presents an important challenge to widespread vaccine uptake, and undermines support for pro-vaccine health policies. In addition to advancing our understanding of the previously-obscured origins of US vaccine skepticism, our work cautions that high-profile media attention to inaccurate scientific studies can undermine public confidence in vaccines. We conclude by offering several recommendations that researchers and health communicators might consider to detect and address future threats to vaccine confidence.

scholarly journals Quantifying the effect of Wakefield et al. (1998) on skepticism about MMR vaccine safety in the U.S.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256395
Author(s):  
Matthew Motta ◽  
Dominik Stecula
Keyword(s):  
Media Coverage ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
Mmr Vaccine ◽  
Media Attention ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Childhood Vaccine

Background Efforts to trace the rise of childhood vaccine safety concerns in the US often suggest Andrew Wakefield and colleagues’ retracted 1998 Lancet study (AW98)–which alleged that the MMR vaccine can cause children to develop autism–as a primary cause of US vaccine skepticism. However, a lack of public opinion data on MMR safety collected before/after AW98’s publication obscures whether anecdotal accounts are indicative of a potentially-causal effect. Methods We address this problem using a regression discontinuity framework to study change in monthly MMR injury claims (N = 74,850; from 1990–2019) from the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) to proxy concern about vaccine safety. Additionally, we suggest a potential mechanism for the effect of AW98 on vaccine skepticism, via automated sentiment analyses of MMR-related news stories (N = 674; from 1996–2000) in major television and newspaper outlets. Results AW98 led to an immediate increase of about 70 MMR injury claims cases per month, averaging across six estimation strategies (meta-analytic effect = 70.44 [52.19, 88.75], p < 0.01). Preliminary evidence suggests that the volume of negative media attention to MMR increased in the weeks following AW98’s publication, across four estimation strategies (meta-analytic effect = 9.59% [3.66, 15.51], p < 0.01). Conclusions Vaccine skepticism increased following the publication of AW98, which was potentially made possible by increased negative media coverage of MMR. Significance Childhood vaccine skepticism presents an important challenge to widespread vaccine uptake, and undermines support for pro-vaccine health policies. In addition to advancing our understanding of the previously-obscured origins of US vaccine skepticism, our work cautions that high-profile media attention to inaccurate scientific studies can undermine public confidence in vaccines. We conclude by offering several recommendations that researchers and health communicators might consider to detect and address future threats to vaccine confidence.

Overcoming False Causal Attribution

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nan Li ◽  
Natalie Jomini Stroud ◽  
Kathleen Hall Jamieson
Keyword(s):  
Causal Attribution ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
Lead Author ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
Mmr Vaccine

In a study published in 1998 in The Lancet, British researchers Wakefield and colleagues described an association between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and the onset of autism. Although the MMR–autism association failed to replicate and the lead author was discredited, the purported relationship decreased public confidence in vaccine safety. Parents continue to cite the MMR controversy as a factor complicating their decisions about vaccinating their children. This chapter focuses on misinformation involving false causality and discusses how it might exert persistent influence on individuals’ memory and inference even after being retracted. Additionally, using the MMR controversy as a case study, the chapter identifies some of the boundary situations that render a false causal attribution difficult to dispatch. Several communication strategies for overcoming false causality are recommended and directions for future research discussed.

Republicans, Not Democrats, Are More Likely to Endorse Anti-Vaccine Misinformation

2021 ◽  
pp. 1532673X2110226
Author(s):  
Matthew Motta
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Scientific Experts ◽  
Childhood Vaccine ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Childhood Vaccines ◽  
Partisan Identification

Vaccine safety skeptics are often thought to be more likely to self-identify as Democrats (vs. Independents or Republicans). Recent studies, however, suggest that childhood vaccine misinformation is either more common among Republicans, or is uninfluenced by partisan identification (PID). Uncertainty about the partisan underpinnings of vaccine misinformation acceptance is important, as it could complicate efforts to pursue pro-vaccine health policies. I theorize that Republicans should be more likely to endorse anti-vaccine misinformation, as they tend to express more-negative views toward scientific experts. Across six demographically and nationally representative surveys, I find that—while few Americans think that “anti-vaxxers” are more likely to be Republicans than Democrats—Republican PID is significantly associated with the belief that childhood vaccines can cause autism. Consistent with theoretical expectations, effect is strongly mediated by anti-expert attitudes—an effect which supplemental panel analyses suggest is unlikely to be reverse causal.

Vaccine Hesitancy and Differential Susceptibility to Media Coverage: A Critical Documentary Led to Substantial Reductions in Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake in Denmark

2021 ◽  
pp. 0272989X2110035
Author(s):  
Maria Knoth Humlum ◽  
Niels Skipper ◽  
Peter Rønø Thingholm
Keyword(s):  
Human Papillomavirus ◽  
Hpv Vaccine ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Differential Susceptibility ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Papillomavirus Vaccine

Objectives To investigate whether negative media coverage of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine led to a decrease in the uptake of the first dose of the HPV vaccine (HPV1) in Denmark and, importantly, whether some groups of individuals were more susceptible to negative media coverage. Methods We measured HPV vaccine uptake of 12-year-old girls born in 2001 to 2004 using Danish administrative data. A quasi-experimental design was employed to assess whether a documentary that was critical of the HPV vaccine and aired in March 2015 affected HPV uptake. Results The documentary led to a quick and substantial decrease in the monthly propensity to vaccinate, which dropped 3 percentage points—or about 50%—in response to the documentary. Responses differed substantially across subgroups, and girls from families with high socioeconomic status (SES) were more susceptible to the negative media coverage. Conclusions Susceptibility to negative media coverage varied substantially across subgroups, highlighting the need for policy makers to appropriately target and differentiate initiatives to improve vaccine compliance rates.

Constructing undesirables: A critical discourse analysis of othering of Fulani nomads in the Ghanaian news media

2021 ◽  
pp. 175048132098209
Author(s):  
Mark Nartey ◽  
Hans J Ladegaard
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
News Media ◽  
Public Debate ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Analysis Framework ◽  
News Reporting ◽  
Media Attention ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Content Organization

The activities of Fulani nomads in Ghana have gained considerable media attention and engendered continuing public debate. In this paper, we analyze the prejudiced portrayals of the nomads in the Ghanaian news media, and how these contribute to an exclusionist and a discriminatory discourse that puts the nomads at the margins of Ghanaian society. The study employs a critical discourse analysis framework and draws on a dataset of 160 articles, including news stories, editorials and op-ed pieces. The analysis reveals that the nomads are discursively constructed as undesirables through an othering process that centers on three discourses: a discourse of dangerousness/criminalization, a discourse of alienization, and a discourse of stigmatization. This anti-nomad/Fulani rhetoric is evident in the choice of sensational headlines, alarmist news content, organization of arguments, and use of quotations. The paper concludes with a call for more balanced and critical news reporting on the nomads, especially since issues surrounding them border on national cohesion and security.

Increasing vaccine uptake in Sudan: Development of a web-based intervention (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majdi Sabahelzain ◽  
Rik Crutzen ◽  
Mohamed Moukhyer ◽  
Hans Bosma ◽  
Bart van den Borne
Keyword(s):  
User Experience ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
Arabic Language ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Content Quality

BACKGROUND WHO described Vaccine hesitancy in 2019 as one of the top 10 threats to global health in high, and low, and middle-income countries. Various communication approaches have been used to engage the public about vaccines and immunization such as mass media and e-health strategies. With the expansion in the use of communication technologies in health in recent years, websites have increasingly been used to support vaccine acceptance and demand and thus increase vaccine uptake. We recently established a web-based intervention called the Tat3im initiative website in Sudan. It aims to increase uptake of vaccines in Sudan by increasing knowledge and addressing issues related to vaccine hesitancy and vaccine safety in the Arabic language OBJECTIVE This article describes the processes that we used to develop and improve this website including the creation of its content. METHODS These processes were informed by using and combining three sources including, Garrett’s user experience framework as a basis for the development, the WHO Vaccine Safety Net's (VSN) criteria for good information practices (i.e. credibility, content (quality and quantity), design and accessibility criteria), and previous relevant research that assessed the local context in Sudan. RESULTS We found that using such evidence as well as combining the VSN's criteria and previous research findings in the five planes of Garrett's framework enabled us to cover many essential elements of user experience and to address issues related to the website’s strategy and content. CONCLUSIONS As the website may be limited due to the high rates of illiteracy as well as relatively low internet use in Sudan, we suggest using social marketing to promote the use of the website as well as monitoring and evaluating the website and users’ experience using different approaches such as visitor traffic and qualitative measures.

scholarly journals Perspectives on the Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccination among Somali Mothers in Stockholm

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 2428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asha Jama ◽  
Mona Ali ◽  
Ann Lindstrand ◽  
Robb Butler ◽  
Asli Kulane
Keyword(s):  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Mmr Vaccine ◽  
Rubella Vaccination ◽  
Depth Interviews

Background: Vaccination hesitancy and skepticism among parents hinders progress in achieving full vaccination coverage. Swedish measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage is high however some areas with low vaccination coverage risk outbreaks. This study aimed to explore factors influencing the decision of Somali parents living in the Rinkeby and Tensta districts of Stockholm, Sweden, on whether or not to vaccinate their children with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Method: Participants were 13 mothers of at least one child aged 18 months to 5 years, who were recruited using snowball sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted in Somali and Swedish languages and the data generated was analysed using qualitative content analysis. Both written and verbal informed consent were obtained from participants. Results: Seven of the mothers had not vaccinated their youngest child at the time of the study and decided to postpone the vaccination until their child became older (delayers). The other six mothers had vaccinated their child for MMR at the appointed time (timely vaccinators). The analysis of the data revealed two main themes: (1) barriers to vaccinate on time, included issues surrounding fear of the child not speaking and unpleasant encounters with nurses and (2) facilitating factors to vaccinate on time, included heeding vaccinating parents’ advice, trust in nurses and trust in God. The mothers who had vaccinated their children had a positive impact in influencing other mothers to also vaccinate. Conclusions: Fear, based on the perceived risk that vaccination will lead to autism, among Somali mothers in Tensta and Rinkeby is evident and influenced by the opinions of friends and relatives. Child Healthcare Center nurses are important in the decision-making process regarding acceptance of MMR vaccination. There is a need to address mothers’ concerns regarding vaccine safety while improving the approach of nurses as they address these concerns.

scholarly journals What Determines Vaccine Hesitancy: Recommendations from Childhood Vaccine Hesitancy to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy

Vaccines ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
Farren Rodrigues ◽  
Suzanne Block ◽  
Suruchi Sood
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Childhood Vaccination ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Multifaceted Approach ◽  
What Works ◽  
Childhood Vaccine

Vaccine hesitancy is a prevalent and ongoing issue. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, additional attention has been brought to the topic of vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy is a threat to the population’s health globally. This article aims to acquire insights from previous literature to determine what works to increase vaccine uptake and how we can apply this knowledge to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Research has focused chiefly on childhood vaccination and the hesitancy of caregivers. After conducting an extensive literature review, we have created a conceptual model of indicators that influence vaccine uptake for health providers and caregivers, which can also be used for vaccine recipients. Overall, the reasons for vaccine hesitancy are complex; therefore, a multifaceted approach is needed to address it. Understanding the factors that affect vaccine hesitancy will aid in addressing hesitancy and, in turn, lead to an increase in vaccine uptake.

scholarly journals Indonesia: Train journalists to write about reproductive health

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Government Control ◽  
Project Staff ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
The Media ◽  
And Training

After government control over the media was liberalized in 1998, Indonesian journalists had a new mandate to explore new issues and foster public debate. Several studies had found evidence that women’s health worsened from 1997–99, yet media coverage of this topic was limited. To increase press coverage of reproductive health (RH) topics, the Population Council conducted an 18-month media project in collaboration with the State Ministry for Women’s Empowerment and other key agencies. The project focused on improving RH knowledge and reporting skills among 22 print journalists. Project staff monitored RH coverage in 22 major newspapers, magazines, and tabloids. After Indonesian journalists received background information and training on RH issues, the quality of their coverage improved. However, as noted in this brief, continued efforts are needed to provide media representatives with ideas for news stories and feature articles and training in use of research findings.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 mass vaccination: Urgent questions on vaccine safety that demand answers from international health agencies, regulatory authorities, governments and vaccine developers                  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxana Bruno ◽  
Peter A Mccullough ◽  
Teresa Forcades I Vila ◽  
Alexandra Henrion-Caude ◽  
Teresa García-Gasca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Safety Data ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
Endothelial Damage ◽  
Mass Vaccination ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
World Population

Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, the race for testing new platforms designed to confer immunity against SARS-CoV-2, has been rampant and unprecedented, leading to conditional emergency authorization of various vaccines. Despite progress on early multidrug therapy for COVID-19 patients, the current mandate is to immunize the world population as quickly as possible. The lack of thorough testing in animals prior to clinical trials, and authorization based on safety data generated during trials that lasted less than 3.5 months, raise questions regarding vaccine safety. The recently identified role of SARS-CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein for inducing endothelial damage characteristic of COVID-19, even in absence of infection, is extremely relevant given that most of the authorized vaccines induce endogenous production of Spike. Given the high rate of occurrence of adverse effects that have been reported to date, as well as the potential for vaccine-driven disease enhancement, Th2-immunopathology, autoimmunity, and immune evasion, there is a need for a better understanding of the benefits and risks of mass vaccination, particularly in groups excluded from clinical trials. Despite calls for caution, the risks of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination have been minimized or ignored by health organizations and government authorities. As for any investigational biomedical program, data safety monitoring boards (DSMB) and event adjudication committees (EAC), should be enacting risk mitigation. If DSMBs and EACs do not do so, we will call for a pause in mass vaccination. If DSMBs and EACs do not exist, then vaccination should be halted immediately, in particular for demographic groups at highest risk of vaccine-associated death or serious adverse effects, during such time as it takes to assemble these boards and commence critical and independent assessments. We urge for pluralistic dialogue in the context of health policies, emphasizing critical questions that require urgent answers, particularly if we wish to avoid a global erosion of public confidence in science and public health.

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