How to speak to a vaccine sceptic: research reveals what works

The Covid pandemic has provoked a fresh wave of hesitancy. According to VCP data, between 2018 and 2023 confidence in vaccine safety, importance and efficacy fell by about 20% in the UK.

This ground-breaking report analyses 734 case studies developed by health professionals.

Our research aims to reverse the decline in immunisation coverage in children, increase vaccine uptake in adults and reduce inequalities in the vaccine service.

The IRIS Academic Research Group was founded by some of the world’s leading researchers and academic institutions and launched in June 2021 at the inaugural Global Vaccine Confidence Summit as part of the UK government’s G7 Presidency.

In the context of the current communication environment, where online content about vaccination can rapidly be created and shared across the world, media monitoring has become an important tool.

Trust is fundamental to cooperation, essential in times of crisis. Researching and understanding trust networks and perceptions of trustworthiness is therefore crucial in preparing for future health shocks, write Heidi Larson and colleagues.