Antivaccination and Vaccine Hesitancy

This important book provides a comprehensive guide to understanding vaccine hesitancy, as well as the nuances of antivaccination claims. It is designed to give clinicians and other professionals targeted information to help them address vaccine hesitancy and antivaccination claims, as well as ways of responding to immunisation concerns. Alongside the scientific facts around vaccinations, it considers the historical foundations of modern vaccine scepticism, while offering key insights into the psychology behind vaccine hesitancy and the factors which influence an individual's decision-making. Separating fact from fiction, the book explores the most well-known antivaccine myths, many of which proliferate online, uncovering ways that counter-vaccine narratives can influence audiences. Importantly, it also outlines the most effective strategies to address both doubts and misinformation, detailing five general principles to improve communications, with tips and guidance to debunk false claims or provide assurance in the face of immunisation doubts. This is essential reading for anyone wishing to really understand the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy, whether professional, student or general reader, and the methods that can be used to challenge misinformation.

Thomas Aechtner is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Queensland. As a Westpac Research Fellow alumnus, and a recipient of UQ's Foundation Research Excellence Award, his research examines vaccine hesitancy, antievolutionism, religion-science conflict, media persuasion, and public perceptions of science. He holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford, an MA from the University of Calgary, and a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Alberta.

1. Understanding Vaccination and Antivaccination 2. Why Do People Have Vaccine Hesitancy? 3. Suspicious Hesitancy: Distrust and Confidence 4. Questioning Safety: Danger and Persuasion 5. Starting Strong: General Guidelines for Vaccine Advocacy 6. Better Advocacy: Debunking and Sticky Facts