Many congratulations to A/Prof Tom Aechtner for his book, Antivaccination and vaccine hesitancy: A professional guide to foster trust and tackle misinformation. London, United Kingdom: Routledge.
This book is an outcome of Tom Aechtner's Westpac Research Fellowship, funded by the Westpac Scholars Trust. It provides a comprehensive guide to understanding vaccine hesitancy, as well as the nuances of antivaccination claims. The book is designed to give researchers, clinicians, and other professionals targeted information to help them address vaccine hesitancy and antivaccination claims, as well as ways of responding to immunisation concerns. Alongside the scientific facts around vaccinations, it considers the historical foundations of modern vaccine scepticism, while offering key insights into the psychology behind vaccine hesitancy and the factors which influence an individual’s decision-making. Separating fact from fiction, the book explores the most well-known antivaccine myths, many of which proliferate online, uncovering ways that counter-vaccine narratives can influence audiences. Importantly, it also outlines the most effective strategies to address both doubts and misinformation, detailing five general principles to improve communications, with tips and guidance to debunk false claims or provide assurance in the face of immunisation doubts. This is essential reading for anyone wishing to really understand the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy, whether professional, student or general reader, and the methods that can be used to challenge misinformation.
