Experts to Tackle Vaccine Hesitancy as Immunization Rates Decline Nationwide

As immunization rates continue to fall across Australia, leading experts will gather this Wednesday to address the growing challenge of vaccine hesitancy at a public policy forum hosted by The University of Western Australia’s Public Policy Institute.

The free event, scheduled for April 22 at the State Library of Western Australia in Northbridge, brings together international and Australian specialists to examine the complex interplay of behavioral science, communication strategies, and policy frameworks influencing public confidence in vaccines.

Health authorities nationwide are increasingly confronting a troubling reality: scientific evidence alone is proving insufficient to maintain high vaccination rates. What was once primarily considered a public health issue has evolved into a multifaceted challenge involving psychological factors, communication breakdowns, and eroding trust in established institutions.

Stephan Lewandowsky, Chair of Cognitive Psychology at the University of Bristol and a globally recognized expert on misinformation, will deliver the keynote address. The former UWA academic’s presentation, titled “Disinformation, global health, and empathetic responses to vaccine hesitancy,” will explore the mechanics behind the spread and persistence of misinformation and outline evidence-based approaches to rebuilding public trust in health institutions.

“We’re seeing vaccine hesitancy as a symptom of broader societal challenges around trust and information processing,” said a spokesperson for the event. “Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing effective public health policies.”

Following Professor Lewandowsky’s address, attendees will participate in a panel discussion featuring prominent researchers in the field. UWA VaxPol Lab leader Professor Katie Attwell, whose work focuses on vaccine policy and hesitancy, will be joined by Professor Ullrich Ecker, an expert on the persistence of false beliefs and misinformation correction strategies.

The discussion will be guided by Emily Roper, former Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, who played a pivotal role in coordinating Western Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her firsthand experience navigating public health messaging during a crisis adds a practical dimension to the theoretical frameworks being discussed.

The panel will explore critical questions surrounding how public confidence in vaccines is established and maintained, why misinformation proves so resilient despite contrary evidence, and what communication and policy approaches might effectively support vaccination uptake and broader preventative health initiatives.

This event comes at a crucial time for Australia’s public health system. Recent data indicates declining vaccination rates across multiple immunization programs, raising concerns about potential resurgences of previously controlled diseases. Health departments across states and territories have reported increasing encounters with vaccine-hesitant parents and adults, highlighting the need for more nuanced approaches beyond simply providing scientific information.

The discussion also reflects broader global trends. The World Health Organization has previously identified vaccine hesitancy as one of the top ten threats to global health, a concern that gained renewed attention during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Western Australia specifically, the event represents an important opportunity to assess regional approaches to vaccine confidence. During the pandemic, WA maintained different policies and messaging compared to eastern states, providing a unique case study in public health communication.

The two-hour forum will take place in the Great Southern Room at the State Library from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. While the event is free, registration is essential due to limited seating capacity.

Policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and members of the public interested in understanding the forces shaping vaccine confidence are encouraged to attend. Participants will have opportunities to engage directly with experts and contribute to the dialogue on this pressing public health challenge.