Vaccine Hesitancy and the Public's Health

Using the rapid increase in the global measles outbreak in 2019, this seminar explored a great irony: In spite of the fact that the vaccine against measles is amongst the safest and most effective of all vaccines, we are having increasing outbreaks of this disease. With the onset of the pandemic, the seminar addresses vaccine hesitancy with regard to COVID-19.

Lead-Instructor: John Swartzberg, Clinical Professor Emeritus, School of Public Health

Co-Instructor: Sam Davis, Professor Emeritus, Architecture, and Former Dean, School for Social Welfare

Measles, Vaccine Hesitancy, and the Public's Health

Countries such as Great Britain that had eliminated measles have regressed and no longer hold this status. The reason for this is that too many people are electing not to immunize their children.

This seminar offered in Spring 2020 started with a series of discussions about basic principles. This included an introduction to the virus that causes measles, measles epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment; the history of vaccination; and a general discussion about how vaccines work. The next section of the course addressed the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy and opposition. It explored its many aspects through the disciplines of history, sociology, social welfare, anthropology, philosophy, literature, journalism, public health and law with invited guest speakers from some of these disciplines. The third section of the course looked at how our society is currently addressing this issue and explore what tools are available to address it in different ways.

The final section of the course focused on supporting students with the development a position paper titled "Vaccine Myths: A Cheat Sheet" by Michelle Meas, Daniel Mota, Joy Edem, Ovya Ganesan, later published in the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter.

Covid-19, Vaccine Hesitancy, and the Public's Health

In Spring 2021, the instructors shifted to COVID-19. The updated seminar covers an introduction to the virus that causes Covid-19, the history of vaccination, and a general discussion about how vaccines work. It offers a focused look at the development of a vaccine against Covid-19 and the politics surrounding it. The phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy and opposition is being explored through the disciplines of history, sociology, social welfare, anthropology, philosophy, literature, journalism, public health and law.

Below is an example of a flyer created by Emeriti Academy staff to help promote the course: