Topic: Vaccine Hesitancy

This series of studies highlights the importance of adopting constructive approaches to restoring public health confidence in vaccination, particularly mRNA vaccines.

Professor Heidi Larson spoke to The i Paper about the role of the Covid pandemic in driving vaccine confidence declines among 18 to 24-year-olds: “It was not specifically a reaction to the vaccine. They felt that their education was disrupted, social life restricted and jobs lost or disrupted.”

Vaccine confidence remains a global public health challenge, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to expand the scope of HCPs’ vaccine confidence oversight into European regions where limited research has been conducted thus far.

In 2023 around 70% of UK adults said that vaccinations were safe and effective, down sharply from 90% in 2018, according to research from the Vaccine Confidence Project, run by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

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.

As health narratives in the climate change discourse become more visible, the intersection of health and climate change will soon become a critical area vulnerable to misinformation and disinformation campaigns.

Strengthen national training curricula and integrate targeted, culturally grounded interpersonal communication practices into training curricula for health workers in ECARO countries.

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.

Heidi Larson, director of the Vaccine Confidence Project, discusses why there is more of a political divide on Covid vaccine acceptance than flu.

Artificial intelligence has potential to counter vaccine hesitancy while building trust in vaccines, but it must be deployed ethically and responsibly, argue Heidi Larson and Leesa Lin

Public opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates was reported globally. This opposition has resulted in diminished uptake of standard childhood vaccines.

In this interview, VCP Founder and Co-Director Prof. Heidi J Larson outlines what research tells us about the impact of mandates on vaccine confidence amongst young people.