Combating Vaccine Disinformation: The Professional Responsibilities of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

Disinformation regarding childhood and adult vaccines represents a public health crisis throughout the United States. Disinformation is defined as the deliberate spreading of false information that is intentionally created and shared to mislead or manipulate people.

The Health and Human Services Secretary has publicly expressed doubts about vaccine safety and is well known as an antivaxxer. Pediatric Nurse Practitioners must create a strategic, proactive, cohesive, and powerful response to our Legislators to correct this problem.

The authors identified three problems: disinformation about vaccine safety and efficacy, problems associated with Legislators confirming individuals for leadership positions in Health and Human Services who openly oppose scientific evidence for vaccine recommendations, and concerns for the new ACIP members who refuse to evaluate vaccine safety evidence based on scientific research studies.

PNPs must have a strong voice addressing public health policies and speak with Legislators to protect the children and adults of our nation from contracting vaccine preventable diseases.