Free Consumer Web Resources on Immunization and Vaccination

Abstract

Great advances in immunization have resulted in the eradication of multiple deadly diseases. Nevertheless, current sources of misinformation, such as social media, have led to growing vaccination hesitancy and refusal to vaccinate. It is the role of medical and information professionals to educate the general public about the importance of evaluating online information on immunization and to provide access to the most accurate, comprehensive, and high-quality online health-care resources. Numerous free, reputable websites created by government and health-care institutions should be recommended to patients to address questions about the safety of vaccines, importance of immunization, and vaccination schedules.

Keywords:

• Disease prevention
• health information for consumers
• immunization
• vaccination

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mariana Lapidus

Mariana Lapidus, MSLIS ([email protected]) Associate Professor of Library and Learning Resources, is a reference coordinator at the Henrietta DeBenedictis Library at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 179 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA