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Pandemic Influenza Vaccines: Communication of Benefits, Risks, and Uncertainties

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Communicating about Risks and Safe Use of Medicines

Abstract

Vaccines that would be recommended and offered in response to a novel influenza virus bring many communication challenges. This chapter identifies and describes some of the major issues that public health agencies and regulatory bodies, vaccine manufacturers, and healthcare professionals would face when it comes to pandemic influenza vaccines and immunisation recommendations. It does so by drawing upon experiences, findings, and outcomes from the H1N1 A influenza pandemic in 2009 that affected much of the world as well as lessons learnt from annual influenza prevention efforts. This chapter begins with challenges brought about by the uncertainties and complexities associated with influenza viruses and then highlights experiences from different countries with a focus on France as a relevant example, illustrating the similarities and differences that can affect pandemic influenza vaccine communication. The final section of the chapter reflects on some key communication-related research findings as well as lessons learnt that can help guide those doing vaccination-related communication responses and efforts in future influenza pandemics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Grady College Center for Health and Risk Communication, Athens, GA, USA

    Glen J. Nowak

  2. Vaccine Confidence Project™, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

    Emilie Karafillakis & Heidi Larson

  3. Department of Health Metrics Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Heidi Larson

Authors
  1. Glen J. Nowak
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  2. Emilie Karafillakis
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  3. Heidi Larson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Glen J. Nowak .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands

    Priya Bahri

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Nowak, G.J., Karafillakis, E., Larson, H. (2020). Pandemic Influenza Vaccines: Communication of Benefits, Risks, and Uncertainties. In: Bahri, P. (eds) Communicating about Risks and Safe Use of Medicines. Adis, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3013-5_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3013-5_5

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  • Publisher Name: Adis, Singapore

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  • Online ISBN: 978-981-15-3013-5

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