In a statement released to the Journal of Health Communication, leading scientists worldwide are asking search engines and social media organizations to prevent the dissemination of inaccurate information on the issue of childhood vaccination, in hopes close ranks around the lack of evidence scientist behind anti-vaccines.
The Salzburg Declaration is focused on curbing the rise of the anti-vaccine movement as it promotes the elimination and attack of false news issued by misinformation in order to support the development of new, effective and fact-based communication programs
The initiative has been supported by more than 60 health leaders in America, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia. They call on search engines and social media organizations to join the cause and help with their technology to block incomplete information and redirect to official health pages that contain consistent explanations on the topic of vaccination benefits.
Vaccination is a method to prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases; Its substances strengthen the immune system, helping it to protect itself from latent diseases.
"We intend to keep a steady pace of accurate vaccine communications to the traditional public," said Dr. Scott Ratzan, founding editor of the Journal of Health Communication and founder of the International Working Group (IWG) on vaccination and public health solutions.
Over history, vaccines have prevented hundreds of infectious diseases such as polio, measles, hepatitis B and meningitis, according to IntraMed, “have saved 3 million lives a year. Each dollar invested in child immunization returns up to 44 USD in benefits”.
The coverage promoted by the government to create public policies that make effective the care of the handling and transfer of information, would be an important support for the care of the quality of life of the citizens.
That is why it is very important to meet the objective of providing qualified information to allow users to identify false, refuted and inexperienced statements before they can decide for themselves what alternative best suits them.
Know the full document of the Declaration here
