In 2018, a significant number of people in Aceh, Indonesia, refused to get vaccinated during a national measles-rubella campaign. The reason? Many believed the vaccines contained traces of pork, which is forbidden in Islam. This refusal was not just a personal choice; it was backed by the local government. The phrase "tidak cocok" or "incompatible" became a powerful...
In Germany, people's views on vaccines seem to be tied to their political beliefs. A recent study looked at how trust and a sense of shared duty affect vaccine readiness among different political groups. The study found that supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party were more likely to be hesitant about vaccines. This was true even after consid...
People were unsure about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. This made it hard to plan and use resources well. A study looked at how well online surveys could predict who would actually get the vaccine. They asked over 5, 000 people from 13 countries if they planned to get vaccinated. Later, they checked if these people actually got the vaccine. The surveys were pretty go...
In the past, many kids died young from diseases we can now prevent with vaccines. Now, some people are choosing not to vaccinate, and these diseases are coming back. This is a big problem because these illnesses can cause serious harm or even death. Janith Farnham and her daughter Jacque know this all too well. Jacque was born with congenital rubella syndrome becaus...
In two states, New York and Florida, a closer look at the reasons behind the reluctance to get the HPV vaccine was taken. The goal was to figure out what stops people from getting the shot and how to boost the number of people who do. The research covered 12 counties in each state. It showed how age, where people live, state rules, and trust in vaccines all play a pa...
In Greece, the COVID-19 jab has been a game-changer in the fight against severe infections. Yet, a significant number of people are still reluctant to roll up their sleeves. What's behind this hesitation? It's a mix of psychological factors. People's beliefs about the jab's safety and how well it works play a big role. So does how seriously they think the virus is. T...
The COVID-19 pandemic brought vaccine skepticism into the spotlight. This is a big deal. It's one of the top 10 threats to public health. There were big protests and a lot of false information spread about the vaccines. This made some people wary of getting the shot. A study was done to understand why some people are hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines. It looked ...
The success of vaccination drives across Central and Eastern Europe is a mixed bag. Some countries are doing well, while others are lagging behind. Why is this happening? It's a complex issue involving money, culture, politics, and even the internet. Let's dive into seven countries: Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania. Each...
Parents often turn to Twitter for insights on the HPV vaccine. This is a big deal because almost a quarter of tweets about the vaccine spread false information. These misleading tweets often get more attention than the accurate ones. This is troubling because false info can make parents hesitant to vaccinate their kids. The types of false information out there are a...
The recent flu season was particularly tough on children. The flu season of 2024-2025 was the most severe in seven years. This flu season was a tough one for kids. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that at least 216 children lost their lives to the flu. This is the highest number of pediatric deaths in 15 years. The previous high was i...