Institutional mistrust a major barrier for child vaccination progress in Africa (Medical Press)

Medical Press reported on the new journal article, Institutional mistrust and child vaccination coverage in Africa by senior research fellow Kalle Hirvonen and coauthors. Mistrust in local and national government plays a significant role in slowing down child vaccination progress in Africa—the continent home to half of the world’s unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children, new research reveals. Hirvonen stated, “Lessons from successful campaigns in Africa highlight the importance of engaging with local communities, trusted political or religious leaders, and providing space for open dialogue. A top-down approach is unlikely to work. However, a lot of uncertainties remain on how grassroots initiatives can be scaled up, and questions need to be asked about the role of social media within local communities. In a post-COVID world where mobility is curbed and people are more isolated, we’ve seen social networks become ideal platforms for spreading anti-vaccination views.” Also published in EurekAlert!, Mirage News, Today Headline, Alpha Galileo (UK).