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Joaquim Cardoso MSc

January 31, 2024

This executive summary is based on the article “Is Vaccination Approaching a Dangerous Tipping Point?”, published by JAMA Network and written by Peter Marks, MD, PhD, and Robert Califf, MD, on January 5, 2024.

What is the message?

The article emphasizes the critical role of vaccination in public health, saving millions of lives annually.

Despite the proven effectiveness and safety of vaccines, a growing number of people in the US are refusing vaccination, posing a threat to population immunity.

The authors urge the healthcare community to intensify efforts in providing clear, evidence-based information about the benefits and risks of vaccination to counter misinformation and encourage informed decision-making.

ONE PAGE SUMMARY

What are the key points?

Life saving: Vaccination is a highly effective public health intervention, responsible for saving numerous lives globally.

Immunity at risk: Increasing vaccine hesitancy in the US puts population immunity at risk, leading to potential excess deaths from preventable diseases.

Measles outbreaks: Pediatric vaccine hesitancy has resulted in measles outbreaks, underlining the importance of education on childhood immunization.

Health education: Communication efforts should focus on educating individuals about the benefits of vaccination against COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus.

Vaccine misinformation: Healthcare professionals, including clinicians and pharmacists, play a crucial role in providing trustworthy information to combat vaccine misinformation.

What are the key statistics?

The uptake of the updated COVID-19 vaccine in the US is only about 35% in individuals older than 65 years.

Studies indicate that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination has saved tens of millions of lives.

Those up to date on COVID-19 vaccination had significantly lower numbers of deaths per million individuals than the unvaccinated.

What are the key examples?

Pediatric vaccine hesitancy has led to measles outbreaks, with a recent central Ohio outbreak resulting in hospitalizations for 42% of affected children.

The success of vaccination campaigns against diseases like smallpox and polio has led to complacency, underestimating the risks of forgoing vaccination.

The uptake of the updated COVID-19 vaccine in the US is notably lower in individuals older than 65 compared to the UK.

Conclusion

The article concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for healthcare professionals to engage in evidence-informed communication, addressing vaccine misinformation.

By providing accurate information about the benefits and risks of vaccination, the healthcare community can contribute to reducing preventable diseases and saving lives.

The FDA commits to supplying timely and clear information to support healthcare professionals and the public in making informed vaccination decisions.

To read the original publication, click here.

Is Vaccination Approaching a Dangerous Tipping Point?

Peter Marks, MD, PhD¹; Robert Califf, MD¹

Contrary to a wealth of misinformation available on social media and the internet, data from various studies indicate that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic tens of millions of lives were saved by vaccination