Cochrane joined global health leaders at the World Health Summit’s Academic Alliance session on confronting disinformation in the global anti-vaccine discourse. Together, they discussed how disinformation continues to undermine vaccine confidence and threaten public health worldwide.
Cochrane recently attended the World Health Summit in Berlin, which took place from 12-14 October under the theme “Taking Responsibility for Health in a Fragmenting World.”
Our newly-appointed CEO, Dr Karla Soares-Weiser, shared her expertise on a high-level panel discussion where she emphasized Cochrane’s role in fighting misinformation and disinformation with trusted, rigorous, and unbiased evidence.
Understanding the roots of vaccine hesitancy
The session brought together experts from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF, who explored the growing influence of misinformation and disinformation across borders and communities. The session was chaired by Professor Yik Ying Teo, Dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and Vice President (Global Health) at the National University of Singapore.
The growing influence of anti-vaccine narratives – whether spread unintentionally or deliberately to deceive – is persistent and cyclical, with rumours and fears re-emerging over time. The speakers highlighted how disinformation deliberately sows confusion and distrust, undermining public confidence in vaccines and causing preventable disease outbreaks globally.
Professor Heidi Larson, from LSHTM and Director of the Vaccine Confidence Project, shared findings from global research showing that vaccine hesitancy often stems from distrust in institutions and negative experiences within health systems, rather than doubts about vaccine safety or efficacy.
Notably, the project conducted a study on people’s attitudes to vaccines in 70 countries during COVID-19 that showed that family members, community, and religious leaders have more influence on vaccine decisions than scientists or official health authorities. She stressed that public health campaigns need a layered approach, aligning not only in the digital space, but also engaging local trusted voices to effectively counter disinformation.
Evidence alone is not enough
For more than 30 years, Cochrane has been dedicated to a single purpose: producing and sharing evidence to inform health decisions. Our mission has never been more important.
In a time of conflicting messages, health decisions should be driven by evidence. Yet in today’s digital age, where people have much greater access to health information, fragmented communications and the spread of disinformation have sown confusion and distrust in science and public institutions. Once trust is lost, it is difficult to rebuild.
At Cochrane, we strive to produce high-quality, unbiased health evidence – but is this enough to fight disinformation?
In her remarks, Dr Karla Soares-Weiser reflected on the challenge of maintaining public trust in science today. She emphasized that three steps are necessary to rebuild confidence.
“First, we must invest in trusted evidence as a global public good. Second, we need to strengthen intermediaries and local voices, because trust is built locally. And third, we must embed equity, transparency and inclusion, ensuring that leadership from the Global South is not the exception, but the norm.”
- Dr Karla Soares-Weiser, CEO
Our unbiased evidence synthesis is vital but must be complemented by local trusted messengers who can connect evidence to lived experience.
Building trust through collaboration and clear communication
No single actor can combat anti-vaccine narratives alone. In his closing remarks, panel chair, Professor Yik Ying Teo, emphasized the value of collaboration between academic networks, global health bodies including the WHO, and trusted evidence producers such as Cochrane to help propagate proper science and communicate it in a locally trusted, contextualized manner.
Trust is fundamentally a social and relational issue, built through respect, empathy, transparency, and inclusion. Scientific evidence is necessary but insufficient without addressing the broader social contract between communities and health institutions.
Clear, accessible communication is also key. Complex scientific jargon can alienate the public, especially in underserved communities. Messages should focus on why vaccines matter personally, address safety transparently, and be delivered in accessible language tailored to different audiences to counter fear-driven narratives.
Interventions must also be context-specific, addressing local beliefs and myths, such as fertility fears around HPV vaccines in Nigeria. For International Day of the Girl Child, we reflected on the recent HPV vaccination campaign in Pakistan. Led by the government with strong support from health departments, schools, local communities, religious leaders and international partners, the campaign aimed to reach over 13 million girls across the country and over 72% coverage was achieved.
Engaging local pharmacists, religious leaders, and community figures as messengers ensures that communication resonates and addresses genuine concerns.
Cochrane continues to contribute evidence to support vaccine confidence efforts. For example, a recent Cochrane review on caregivers’ and adolescents’ views and practices regarding HPV vaccination for adolescents provides insights into the social factors influencing vaccine decisions.
Continuing the conversation
Misinformation does not respect borders and is often transmitted through shared languages and cultural ties. This calls for cross-national collaboration, culturally tailored communication, and sustained investment in trusted information systems.
Building and sustaining vaccine confidence requires addressing systemic distrust, engaging trusted local voices, ensuring rapid and context-sensitive communication, and fostering partnerships across sectors and communities.
The fight against misinformation is ongoing, and we all have a role to play in challenging false information, protect public health, and save lives – from health professionals and academics to community leaders and citizens.
