Health Literacy - creating Trust in Vaccination

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1 Health Literacy - creating Trust in Vaccination Hildrun Sundseth Board Member European Institute of Women s Health

2 About the EIWH The European Institute of Women s Health (EIWH) is a health NGO launched in The EIWH aims to ensure a gender-sensitive approach to health policy, prevention, treatment, care and research in order to reduce health inequalities and improve quality. Organisation: Extensive multi-national, multi-disciplinary network of patient groups, health NGOs, researchers, gender experts, politicians, and medical professionals Expert Advisory Board

3 Importance of Vaccination Vaccination a key tool to prevent infectious diseases. Despite past success, benefits are currently not fully recognised or appreciated by society. Media stories misrepresenting or exaggerating the dangers of vaccines. Result in loss of public trust in vaccination. Current measles upsurge in some EU countries is a warning to policymakers.

4 Women & Vaccination Women - due to their reproductive and caring roles in society - have traditionally played a key part in getting their children vaccinated. Through the introduction of the HPV vaccines for the prevention of most forms of cervical cancer women s awareness of vaccination beyond childhood, travel or flu has increased.

5 Older Women & Vaccination The EU 2020 Strategy calls for an increase in two healthy life years. Yet vaccination for older people is not consistently promoted. Women themselves are on the forefront of ageing, due to their greater longevity and caring for ageing family member. Need to highlight vaccination in older adults to reduce infections such as influenza or pneumococcal diseases, Prevent costly hospitalisation.

6 History of Distrust in Vaccination Reaction to Smallpox Vaccine already in 19 th century. UK Compulsory Vaccination Act 1853 Court case against compulsory vaccination Conscientious objection was coined.

7 The Vaccination Monster

8 Restoring Public Trust Leadership in vaccination by public health community is lacking. Address concerns early before there is a threat of outbreak. Accurate scientific evidence on benefit/risk. But also underlying issues: mix of psychological, ethical, religious, sociocultural and political Ensure consistency of message. Invest in a health literate public.

9 Health Literacy & Vaccination Health literacy is the ability to access, understand, evaluate and communicate information as a way to promote, maintain and improve health in a variety of settings across the life course Health literacy about vaccination would: Improve the public s understanding of vaccination; Counteract the negative view of vaccination in society.

10 ECDC Health Literacy Report A recent ECDC publication highlighted the need for a health literate approach to infectious disease control for the benefit of both individuals and for society. Yet, little support is giving by European and national health authorities to support vaccination across the lifespan.

11 Need for EU Action Infectious diseases easily move across borders. The EU health policy focus is on prevention Recently adopted Cross Boarder Healthcare legislation. Europe needs a common strategy for vaccination across the lifespan and as well as targeted health literacy programmes aimed at specific population group.

12 Need for Advocacy Unlike for specific diseases such as HIV, cancer, diabetes, rare diseases, a strong advocacy voice for vaccination is missing. Anti-vaccine activists are well-organised and highly vocal. HPV Vaccination was led by Cervical Cancer patient groups, joined by civil society.

13 EP Event: HPV Vaccination During the European Week Against Cancer, MEPs in conjunction with the EIWH held a Roundtable on cervical cancer prevention. To highlight to MEPs the need for the European cervical cancer prevention strategy to include HPV vaccination. 6 June 2012

14 Recommendations Address public concerns pro-actively. Increase health literacy about the benefit of vaccination across the life-span. Research to understand the psychologicial, social and political factors that affect public trust. EU show leadership in vaccination policy.

15 Thank you! For more information, please contact: European Institute of Women s Health 33 Pearse Street Dublin 2 Ireland info@eurohealth.ie