vaccines — Blog — Sage Perspectives Blog

Health professionals can apply the 3C Model of Vaccine Hesitancy to support RSV vaccination among older adults

In 2023, two vaccines were approved for use in Canada for the prevention of lower respiratory tract infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in people aged 60 years and older; however, their uptake may be hindered by vaccine fatigue, hesitancy, and persisting misconceptions that RSV is largely a concern among children. While hospitalization rates due to RSV are highest among children under the age of 1 year, mortality rates are highest among older adults. Reaching this population with safe and effective vaccines will save lives.

Cancer Prevention Begins in Middle School

There is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) so common that the average American will contract it at some point and likely never know they were infected. If they are unaware of the infection, they will also be unaware of its transmission to others. This STI is the human papillomavirus (HPV), and while many people’s natural immune systems can fight off and clear the infection, this is not always the case. When the body’s immune systems fail to clear the infection, the consequences can be devastating.

Editor's Picks, ResearchMoazzma ArshadMay 22, 2023HPV, vaccines, cancer, STI

Marketplaces of Misinformation: A Study of How Vaccine Misinformation Is Legitimized on Social Media

Misinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccines spread through social media and shape how people make health decisions. Our latest work addresses these questions by identifying how vaccine misinformation that originates in books sold via online marketplaces gets legitimized and spread through social media.

Preparing for the unpredictable

There’s a well-known Yiddish saying ‘Mann tracht und Gott lacht’ meaning Man plans and God laughs. It isn’t unusual for people to live under the illusion (or delusion) that life will be good or get better, and this sense of optimism (or is it entitlement or perhaps hope?) may favor the propensity to plan for a future blessed by comfort, happiness, close friends and family, and good health.

Research, Editor's PicksKimberley SimpsonMay 13, 2021COVID-19, vaccines, health psychology, books

Everybody is talking about vaccines, but who on earth gets them?

We are witnessing the largest vaccination campaign in history. Although the number of doses that have been administered so far are enough to fully vaccinate about 5% of the global population against COVID-19, the distribution has been highly unequal.

Editor's Picks, ResearchMoazzma ArshadMay 7, 2021vaccines, vaccinations, COVID-19

How is psychological safety related to physicians’ vaccination behavior?

Many high-performing teams have one thing in common. They feature psychological safety—a specific type of team climate where members feel safe to be themselves and take interpersonal risks such as asking for help, suggest improvements or admit mistakes. Studies have shown that psychological safety allows for speaking one’s mind, learning and innovation.

Vaccine hesitancy, the increasing parent-provider divide, and the response from researchers and policymakers to stem the growing concerns

The vast majority of parents continue to immunize their children against deadly infectious diseases. However, of late, a growing number of them in both developed and developing nations have refused vaccination forcing the World Health Organization to declare vaccine hesitancy as one of the top ten major threats to global health.