School of Public Health, University of Haifa, 199 Abba Khoushy, Mount Carmel, 3498838, Haifa, Israel.
Isr J Health Policy Res. 2023 Mar 28;12(1):11. doi: 10.1186/s13584-023-00560-1.
In the paper published recently in this journal, Kumar et al. explained why the key to improved COVID-19 vaccine uptake is to understand societal reactions leading to vaccine hesitancy. They conclude that communications strategies should be tailored to the different phases of vaccine hesitancy. However, within the theoretical framework provided in their paper, vaccine hesitancy should be recognized as having both rational and irrational components. Rational vaccine hesitancy is a natural result of the inherent uncertainties in the potential impact of vaccines in controlling the pandemic. In general, irrational hesitancy is based on baseless information obtained from hearsay and deliberately false information. Risk communication should address both with transparent, evidence-based information. Rational concerns can be allayed by sharing the process in which dilemmas and uncertainties are dealt with by the health authorities. Messages on irrational concerns need to address head on the sources spreading unscientific and unsound information. In both cases, there is a need to develop risk communication that restores trust in the health authorities.
在最近发表于该期刊的一篇论文中，Kumar 等人解释了为什么提高 COVID-19 疫苗接种率的关键是要了解导致疫苗犹豫的社会反应。他们得出的结论是，沟通策略应根据疫苗犹豫的不同阶段进行调整。然而，在他们论文提供的理论框架内，应认识到疫苗犹豫既有理性成分，也有非理性成分。理性的疫苗犹豫是疫苗在控制大流行方面的潜在影响的固有不确定性的自然结果。一般来说，非理性的犹豫是基于从传闻和故意虚假信息中获得的毫无根据的信息。风险沟通应该用透明的、基于证据的信息来处理这两方面的问题。通过分享卫生当局处理困境和不确定性的过程，可以缓解理性担忧。对于非理性担忧的信息，需要直接针对传播非科学和不合理信息的来源。在这两种情况下，都需要制定风险沟通策略，以恢复民众对卫生当局的信任。
