Combating false information on vaccines: Tips for journalists

Abstract

Journalists play a critical role in keeping the public up to date on information they need to be healthy, including staying current on their vaccines. Along with health workers, the media is one of the most trusted sources the public have for scientific information; journalists help shape perceptions, attitudes, and even behaviors. This document aims to support journalists, regardless of their medium, to accurately cover stories related to vaccines and vaccination. Journalists play a critical role in keeping the public up to date on information they need to be healthy, including staying current on their vaccines. Along with health workers, the media is one of the most trusted sources the public have for scientific information; journalists help shape perceptions, attitudes, and even behaviors. While misinformation about vaccination is as old as vaccines themselves, its more recent explosion, especially on social media, has caused concern for health professionals and scientists. Studies have demonstrated that even brief exposure to vaccine misinformation can negatively impact individuals’ attitudes and intentions toward vaccination, even among people who have previously been vaccinated. As vaccination coverage rates fall, populations are left exposed to deadly vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) like measles, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, tetanus, and others. Keeping people healthy and protected from VPDs requires collaboration across sectors, especially in the face of vaccine misinformation. For this reason, PAHO has created this document for media professionals covering vaccination, which covers bias and balance, norms and perceptions, and tips on other related topics, as well as additional resources for further information.