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Bio of speaker: 

Professor Daniel Salmon, PhD, MPH is Professor, International Health and Health, Behavior & Society and Deputy Director, Institute for Vaccine Safety at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA. Dr. Salmon’s primary research and practice interest is optimizing the prevention of infectious diseases through the use of vaccines. He is broadly trained in vaccinology, with an emphasis in epidemiology, behavioral epidemiology, and health policy. Dr. Salmon’s focus has been on determining the individual and community risks of vaccine refusal, understanding factors that impact vaccine acceptance, evaluating and improving state laws providing exemptions to school immunization requirements, developing systems and science in vaccine safety, and effective vaccine risk communication. Dr. Salmon has considerable experience developing surveillance systems, using surveillance data for epidemiological studies, and measuring immunization coverage through a variety of approaches. 

Abstract: 

Multi-Level Interventions to Address Vaccine Hesitancy and Improve Vaccine Uptake
Vaccine hesitancy remains a significant clinical and public health challenge despite the overwhelming evidence demonstrating the benefits and safety of vaccines.  Many pregnant women and parents undervalue vaccines and hold misconceptions regarding vaccine safety, undermining efforts to control infectious diseases and related morbidity and mortality.  We have developed and are evaluating patient, practice and provider interventions to address vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccine uptake.  Our patient-level intervention is a web-based application using audience segmentation to tailor messages such that patients who intend to follow vaccinations standards of care receive a presumptive approach to vaccination and those who hold vaccine concerns receive salient messages grounded in behavioral theory. Our practice-level interventions include nurturing a vaccine champion, a quality improvement program (AFIX), posters and brochures.  Our provider-level intervention involves a continuing medical education training on how to talk about vaccines with patients and a book succinctly describing vaccine preventable diseases, vaccine recommendations, a broad range of vaccine safety topics, and talking points to use with patients.  These interventions are consistent in approach, messaging and images.  Evaluation of these interventions is underway through a randomized trial assessing knowledge, attitudes and beliefs as well as maternal and infant vaccine uptake.     

Contact for inquiries: Rata Joseph, +61 (2) 9385 0900 or recpt@kirby.unsw.edu.au