Ansell J – PCST Network

Author: James Ansell – The Australian National University, Australia

Vaccination has been inarguably beneficial to humanity, however recent decades have seen a rise in vaccine hesitancy and refusal. In particular the false connection of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine with Autism by Wakefield et al in 1998 started a rigorous anti-vaccination movement. Since then vaccination rates in some areas have fallen below ‘herd immunity’ levels, allowing for vaccine preventable diseases to return and claim lives.

This research reviewed the literature of vaccination program communications and interventions between 1998 and 2014 to determine if any had reduced vaccine hesitancy and improved vaccination rates. This review focused on two vaccines- the MMR vaccine which had been the subject of the Wakefield et al (1998) and the Human Papillomavirus vaccine which had been incorporated into vaccination schedules post-1998.

The research identified a gap in existing science communication literature, with few studies specifically tracking vaccination rates. Most research looked only at vaccine attitudes or intentions. Overall there was insufficient data to show any specific communication or intervention strategy reduced vaccine hesitancy or increased vaccination rates to herd immunity levels.

Of the literature that did exist, it suggested that vaccine hesitancy potentially played an unexpectedly small role in decreasing vaccination rates, with logistical issues predominately preventing vaccination. Additionally most interventions relied on single interactions, so vaccines requiring multiple sessions e.g. booster shots could not have immunisation rates determined at all.

This suggests that potentially interventions and communication strategies that have multiple interactions and address logistical barriers may be sufficient to attain herd immunity levels without needing to directly address vaccine hesitancy.

Recommendations for future research to fill this literature gap include a larger focus on directly tracking vaccinations rates rather than vaccination attitudes or intentions, as well as developing communications strategies that focus on logistical barriers and engage with audiences multiple times.

Presentation type: Individual paper and visual talk
Theme: Society
Area of interest: Investigating science communication practices

Author: James Ansell – The Australian National University, Australia

Lyme disease is a complex, debilitating tick-borne illness with symptoms ranging from fever and malaise to polyneuropathy and encephalomyelitis. Lyme is surrounded by much controversy, particularly Australia. There are an increasing number of extremely ill Australians who believe they have Lyme or a Lyme-like illness. However Government agencies and the medical community firmly maintain that Lyme does not exist in Australia.

This stark division has led to an increasing breakdown of relations between key stakeholder groups. In 2016 this culminated in an emotionally charged Australian Senate Committee. The Inquiry concluded that the official response to these unwell people had been inadequate, recommending a patient-centred, multi-disciplinary treatment approach be adopted by official agencies and the medical community. The Inquiry urgently recommended funding be made available for research and in 2017 the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council allocated $3 million to a targeted call for research into Lyme-like illness in Australia.

This issue raises an important question for science communication in the medical landscape- how can we best communicate the science of complex, controversial and constantly changing diseases such ill people remain engaged with the medical community and treatments. Particularly when stakeholders are so strongly divided. More broadly, what policies can be developed to guide medical practitioners, researchers and government agencies in responding in an appropriate and constructive manner that minimises harm if a complex and controversial diseases emerges, or is perceived to emerge, in a new area.

This research proposes to use Lyme or Lyme-like illness in Australia as a case study to develop best communication practises and policy in this field. Firstly by looking at the historical situation to review what occurred and what went wrong. And secondly by examining the effects of what is developed or delivered over coming years following the Senate Inquiry and NHMRC funding.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Idea in progress
Theme: Society
Area of interest: Investigating science communication practices

Evaluation of vaccine communications and interventions, 1998-2014 – Do any actions have a shown improvement in reducing vaccine hesitancy and increasing vaccination rates to herd immunity levels?

Treating patients with an illness that may not exist- using Lyme or Lyme-like illness in Australia as a case study for developing patient centric communication strategies and policy guidelines for interacting with complex and controversial illnesses

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