The World Health Organization (WHO) has released an annual survey of the most serious threats to global health - and one of them is the growing number of vaccine refusals, which is a threat on the same list as Ebola and air pollution.
“Doubts about vaccines - reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite their availability - threaten to undo all progress made in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases,” the panel wrote. - Vaccination is one of the most cost effective ways to avoid disease. Currently, vaccinations against various diseases prevent 2–3 million deaths a year, and an additional 1.5 million could have been avoided if global vaccination coverage were increased.”
In itself, combating the ideas promoted by vaccine opponents, who often - contrary to almost all available evidence - “broadcast” that vaccines are ineffective or harmful, is a difficult task.
Many people listen to conspiracy theories, which means that information from traditional public health influencers may be perceived negatively or simply ignored.
The reasons people choose not to get vaccinated are complex. The WHO Vaccine Advisory Group defined them as complacency, limited access to vaccines and uncertainty about their effectiveness.
“These are the key reasons underlying the doubts about vaccination,” the experts write diplomatically.
“Health workers, especially in remote areas, remain the most trusted advisors in influencing vaccination decisions and need to be supported to provide complete and reliable information about vaccines to the public.”
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