COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence

With the emergence of highly infectious strains of COVID-19 in the UK and South Africa, the race is on to get vaccines out to the general public across the globe, but how do we improve confidence in the general public? In the UK we’ve already started rolling out doses of the Pfizer and Astra Zeneca vaccine and it really feels like there’s light at the end of this tunnel. However, one big question remains – how many of our patients are actually going to accept the vaccine?  How, as clinicians do we approach and make sense of the issue of vaccine hesitancy in the post-truth era of disinformation, conspiracy theories and distrust of medical science? Dr Will Duffin, a jobbing frontline GP is joined by Dr Pauline Paterson and Professor Beata Kampmann, who are senior researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Directors of the vaccine confidence project. In this video, Dr Paterson and Professor Kampmann share their expertise and the latest research on this pivotal issue that could define whether humankind will overcome this terrible pandemic. A copy of Dr Paterson’s slides are available HERE. More information about the vaccine confidence project can be found at https://www.vaccineconfidence.org/covid-19 The Vaccine Confidence Project is conducting a global study to track public sentiment and emotions around current and potential measures to contain and treat COVID-19. Through a mix of population surveys and social media monitoring and analysis over time and place, this year-long global study will investigate perception and sentiment of COVID-19 social distancing measures and potential medical tools globally. Trends in public sentiment will be tracked around the globe to identify changing perceptions, behaviours, and concerns towards the pandemic. Data will be collected on attitudes towards potential treatments and vaccines, including a possible new COVID-19 vaccine. This will support public engagement strategies and help build preparedness for vaccine introduction.