Nurses offer advice on countering vaccine misinformation

Nurses can build on the trusting relationship they have with patients to counter misinformation with factual evidence about the benefits of vaccines. An October article in the American Journal of Nursing (AJN) asserted, “By practicing evidence-based care, addressing health literacy, and becoming involved in public health policy, nurses can be excellent advocates for immunization and may help prevent additional outbreaks of preventable diseases.” The authors found social media has been the major vector for the spread of misinformation about vaccines, and nurses were among those engaging in this discourse. The article provided specific advice on ways nurses can address deficits in health literacy, practice evidence-based care and contribute to public health initiatives.