Addressing vaccine misinformation through a measles vaccination campaign

Program Planning

The author of this report has been asked to create a program based on one of three overall types, those being prevention programs, disease management programs and quality management programs. The author has chosen the first of those three. Specifically, the author will be focusing in vaccinations and how important they are for children and even adults on some occasions. There is a ton of misinformation and lies that abound out there and the truth needs to be made clear.

Narrative Description

The author of this report, as noted above, will be championing an enhanced measles vaccination campaign. This campaign has become necessary due to many people not getting vaccinated and this is thus causing outbreaks to occur when the disease should really be as eradicated as polio at this point. The author of this report plans a three prong plan:

Find resources and funds to offer measles vaccinations (or, preferably, the combination vaccine of measles, mumps and rubella) for little to no cost for those that have cost as a concern

An education program that explains why vaccines are necessary and why it is important that all kids get them. Indeed, some schools require that kids get vaccinated before they attend classes

A different arc of the education program will specifically address the lies and misinformation that exists out there as it relates to measles vaccines. For example, there is rampant rumor that vaccines cause autism but this has been debunked in more than one study and many studies (one in particular) that says it DOES cause autism was actually retracted (Harris, 2010).

Planning & Project Management

The author of this report will put together the necessary materials and email blasts that can be distributed through social media, the news media and at the schools. The author will leverage school personnel, medical professionals and so forth. Volunteers will be used when possible so as to keep costs down. All practices and messages used will be based on evidence-based practice and real statistics or facts. The general strategy and tool will be to not be shocking but to be honest about how measles can kill and how it is very easy to stop.

Conclusion

In a day where vaccines are so effective, they should always be used. The new generation's propensity to avoid them is dangerous, misinformed and wrong. The people that are impeding the use of vaccines are unethical, if not criminal, in their behavior. Getting the right information out there is key to winning the battle.