But now vaccine doubt is spreading faster and further than ever through social media, and populist rightwing politicians in Europe and the US are riding on the back of a wave of mistrust of vaccine science. In office they have softened their stance, and last month Italy’s new populist government performed a U-turn and supported measles vaccination. The WHO produced a document entitled “How to respond to vocal vaccine deniers in public”, based on psychological research. The first rule is that “the general public is the target, not the vaccine denier”, who is unlikely to change their mind. Heidi Larson, director of the Vaccine Confidence Project, believes public health officials should engage on social media.

Source: The Guardian December 21, 2018 14:01 UTC