IMMUNOLOGY2025™ Conference Recordings-Countering Misinformation and Building Public Health Trust in Science

Countering Misinformation and Building Public Health Trust in Science - Faculty / Presenters

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker thanks the organizers and then shifts to the broader problem of science misinformation, using vaccines as the main example. They explain that misinformation is not new, but today it spreads faster and can undermine public health. Vaccines are presented as a clear example of scientific success, having saved millions of lives and sharply reduced diseases like smallpox, polio, and measles. In contrast, anti-vaccine claims and outbreaks show how misinformation can lead to harmful decisions and public confusion.<br /><br />The speaker defines misinformation as claims that conflict with the scientific evidence at the time, and disinformation as the intentional spread of false science. They stress that trust in scientists remains relatively high, though politically divided. The solution, they argue, must be system-wide: improve access to accurate information, reduce spread on platforms, pre-bunk and debunk false claims, and fill information gaps before misinformation does.

Keywords

science misinformation

vaccines

public health

disinformation

scientific evidence