Author and health policy expert Timothy Caulfield knows it can be very difficult to change peopleās minds when it comes to vaccines. But he hopes his new book, āThe Vaccination Picture,ā will help.
āThere are so many vaccination myths out there,ā Caulfield, a University of Alberta professor and the Canada Research Chair in health law and policy, told CTVās Your Morning on Tuesday.
Caulfield also famously in his recent book, āIs Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?ā
āThe Vaccination Pictureā is a colourful book that uses art and fact-based essays to clear up misinformation about vaccines. Caulfield said he hopes it will kickstart āengaging conversationsā about the importance of immunization.
Since the advent of mass immunization, there has been skepticism and outright rejection of vaccines, Caulfield said. But the now-discredited 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield that purported to find a link between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism sparked the modern age of anti-vaccine movements, he said.
Even though Wakefieldās findings were debunked and further research has shown that there is no link between vaccines and autism, many people still believe that vaccines cause harm.
Caulfield said research shows āitās difficult to change peopleās minds with facts alone,ā so itās important for researchers and health professionals to talk to people about how vaccines directly benefit them, their families and their communities.
Watch Your Morningās full interview with Caulfield above.
