The Weekly Roundup: Immunization Misinformation (2.22.19)
Even as a widespread outbreak of measles worries health officials in the Pacific Northwest, Facebook is under fire for spreading anti-vax messages via group recommendations. The algorithms that power websites where Americans get often inaccurate health-related information from, says Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), “are not designed to distinguish quality information from misinformation or misleading information, and the consequences of that are particularly troubling for public health issues.” The Wall Street Journal is reporting that another social platform, Pinterest, has stopped returning search results for “vaccination” in an effort to curb misinformation. Studies have even connected immunization with better heart health, which makes February a great time to talk with patients about vaccines like Tdap. Besides being a public health threat, there’s no doubt that immunizations create opportunities for both revenue—but what can pharmacists do to promote them, especially among the unscientifically inclined? Here’s a place to start: Check out this audio discussion with some of the misinformation surrounding vaccination, and feel free to share the link with your patients via email or across your social media feeds.
Here are a few other stories that might be of interest: