Timely & important analysis of trust in science, health and medical research - Interesting use of vaccine uptake, coverage & behavioural data to measure the trust pulse of the population more broadly.

cc Julie Leask AO

One truly can't make this stuff up! | 10 comments on LinkedIn

The conversation about global health architecture has a legitimacy problem.

Global health reform is at the top of the agenda at this week's World Health Assembly, but the conversation extends well beyond Geneva. It is happening in regional bodies, thematic networks, civil society spaces, and national health ministries across the world.

Three things deserve more attention across all these discussions:
1/ the erosion of the shared premises that made multilateral negotiation possible;
2/ a drift toward justifying health investment purely in economic and security terms, which quietly narrows who counts; and
3/ a generational trust gap that procedural reform alone will not fix.

When 79% of young people believe at least one divisive health claim, that's a signal that the relationship between people and health institutions needs serious attention alongside the governance debates.

I'll be watching from the sidelines this week and beyond, but a few things seem clear from current discussions. Strengthening WHO's financial base and defending its constitutional authority are essential. Building different coalitions around specific issues, pandemic preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, digital health governance, climate and health, rather than waiting for a comprehensive settlement, is a practical way forward. And the deeper question, whether reform will produce something the people it is meant to serve actually recognize as theirs, needs to stay on the table alongside the technical and financial ones.

Health is still a right, not just a strategic asset. Holding onto that, in all the spaces where these debates are happening, may be the most important work of all.

My full thoughts below.

Medical trust will not be rebuilt by telling people to stop asking questions.

It is rebuilt when physicians are willing to investigate uncomfortable issues carefully, openly, and without fear of reputational punishment.

Over the past few years, many people have become increasingly sceptical of the medical establishment, and some of that scepticism is unhealthy. But some of it has also been earned.

When legitimate questions are dismissed, delayed, censored, or labelled before they are properly examined, trust does not recover. It collapses further.

That is why I believe the future of medicine depends on a different kind of physician.

Not the loudest voice. Not the most institutionally protected voice. Not the one who simply repeats consensus.

But the physician who is willing to ask: What are we missing? What does the mechanism suggest? What does the patient’s experience reveal? What does the data show if we are brave enough to look?

This comment from a subscriber meant a great deal because it captured what I have tried to do over the past few years: focus on the science of medicine, not merely the business or politics of medicine.

Medicine should serve the human condition. That requires curiosity. It requires courage. And sometimes, it requires asking the question before it is safe to ask it.

#covid #medicine #research | 23 comments on LinkedIn

Now that the The New York Times wrote about it, maybe it is finally time for me to post (boast) :D The first part of the Clickbait Cures investigation is out!

We expose a massive advertising campaign that has been running for years to promote 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥 medical products in the EU. The research looks at some 360,000 ads promoting 390 unregulated medical supplements (of which 76 have been 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 by official health authorities in the EU, U.S., and beyond) with medical claims to cure chronic diseases such as diabetes, psoriasis, cardiovascular diseases, amongst a range of other conditions.

As the title says, Meta has a health scam problem. But so does Google. 
These campaigns violate a laundry list of the platforms' own advertising policies, operate in breach of the EU's DSA as to systemic risk on public health, impersonate pharmaceutical companies, steal the identity of medical professionals, use inauthentic networks to run the ads... and yet have been tolerated for years.

A conservative estimate is that Meta and Google have raked in a few millions in ad revenue -- if only we knew how much exactly, alas, the budgets of "commercial ads" (aka scam ads) are still not being disclosed. 

Take a look at the report, and -- if you fly past the paywall -- check the article (links in first comment).

And the lunacy continues... | 10 comments on LinkedIn

Prescriptions for the anti-parasite medication ivermectin doubled after actor Mel Gibson endorsed the dewormer as an off-label cancer cure on a high-profile podcast, a new study says.

Gibson appeared on “The Joe Rogan Experience” in January 2025 and described three friends with stage 4 cancer who he said recovered after taking ivermectin and fenbendazole, another dewormer that’s approved only for veterinary use.

Ivermectin prescriptions leapt by 97% in the United States in the six months following Gibson’s endorsement, compared to the year before, researchers reported May 12 in JAMA Network Open.

Ivermectin and drugs like fenbendazole have shown anti-cancer activity in lab tests and animal studies, but no clinical trials have shown they are safe and effective for treating cancer in humans, researchers said.

“Not all widely shared health information is accurate, even when it comes from familiar or influential sources,” researcher Dr. Katherine Kahn, a professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said in a news release.

“Using unproven treatments can carry real risks, especially if it delays care that is known to work,” she said. “Clinicians and health systems play a critical role in helping patients navigate information and make informed decisions.”

Ivermectin first came to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, when influencers touted it as a potential treatment for the respiratory virus. These claims were never validated, and the National Institutes of Health does not recommend its use against COVID, according to Drugs.com.

For the study, researchers tracked electronic health record data for more than 68 million patients treated by 67 health care organizations from all regions of the United States.

Results showed that ivermectin prescribing rates were more than 2.5 times higher among people with cancer following Gibson’s remarks compared to the year before.

In the South, ivermectin prescription rates more than tripled levels of the year before, researchers found.

Increases in ivermectin prescriptions were 2.8 times higher in men than in women, and almost 2.7 times higher in younger adults 18 to 64 than in those 65 and older, the study says.

“As a primary care doctor, I want my patients and people across the country to have the chance to get treatments we know can help them live longer, healthier lives,” senior researcher Dr. John Mafi said in a news release. He’s an associate professor-in-residence of medicine at UCLA.

“When prescribing for an unproven cancer treatment more than doubles after a single podcast, especially among men and people in the South, it raises a concern that patients may be skipping or delaying treatments we know work in favor of something that hasn’t been proven to help them,” Mafi said.

These results show how quickly shaky medical claims can spread, particularly if promoted by someone with celebrity status, researchers said. Continues in link...

Did you know that aluminum became widely used in vaccines in the US in the 1940s in a mass vaccination program involving DTP? In the 1980s, that vaccine was the focus of so many lawsuits related to side effects that manufacturers threatened to end production. Parents, read more on the risks of aluminum in vaccines - link is in the first comment.

#vaccines

False claims based on bad translation slip past policies targeting hate speech and medical misinformation.

Consensus, Disagreements, and Open Questions in the Psychology of Misinformation

Gordon Pennycook
David Rand

Abstract
Research on misinformation has expanded rapidly over the past decade. This review examines areas of consensus and contention within the literature on misinformation, with particular attention to conceptual definitions, measurement approaches, and theoretical explanations. We outline views on what it means to be susceptible to misinformation and advocate for assessing susceptibility by focusing on the ability to discern true from false claims. Although exposure to fake news is less common online than many think, we argue that misinformation-more broadly construed-continues to be a major problem. We review evidence on cognitive and socioaffective mechanisms underlying susceptibility to misinformation, including repetition effects, lack of analytic reasoning, political identity, and information environments. We also evaluate interventions such as fact-checking, prebunking, psychological inoculation, and accuracy prompts. Overall, the literature reveals several robust findings but also significant methodological limitations and theoretical disagreements that suggest fruitful future directions for misinformation research.

https://lnkd.in/eyVqsH2j

As outbreaks grow and more and more kids around the world are dying because they have measles, Aaron Siri continue to push misinformation about the benefits of having measles. https://lnkd.in/gj9wiG8k

Découvrir l'album "Vaccination" en images et tableaux – L’histoire par l’image

🚨 MEDICAL DEBUNK: Is a new "peer-reviewed" study proof that vaccines cause autism?

A paper titled "Determinants of Autism Spectrum Disorder" is circulating widely in professional circles, published in the new "Journal of Independent Medicine" (JIM). Proponents claim it offers definitive proof against the global vaccine schedule.

We looked into the data, the journal, and the authors. Here is what we found:

❌ The "Journal" Illusion: JIM is an unindexed publication (not in PubMed or MEDLINE) run by the Independent Medical Alliance—the very coalition partnering with the study's authors. It functions as a promotional echo chamber, bypassing standard blind peer-review.

❌ The Citation Ring: The paper relies heavily on a "citation ring," counting previously discredited or retracted papers written by its own co-authors (including the infamous Andrew Wakefield) to artificially inflate its numbers.

❌ Quantity Over Quality: The "107 positive studies" claimed include retracted papers, cell cultures in petri dishes, and a reliance on the "ecological fallacy" (confusing correlation with causation).

❌ A History of Retractions: Out of the 10 listed co-authors, at least 4 have had their previous research formally retracted or withdrawn for data misrepresentation or ethical violations.

Before sharing the latest viral "breakthrough," read our full, data-backed fact-check.

👇 Full Analysis & Data Verification:
https://lnkd.in/gdhZrqkb

#MedicalJournalism #FactCheck #PublicHealth #VaccineSafety #DataIntegrity #Healthcare | 21 comments on LinkedIn

Vaccines are often described as protection. But one of the simplest ways to understand them is as practice.
 
Like how a fire drill helps teach you what to do during an actual fire, vaccines give your body a rehearsal before the emergency, teaching your immune system what to look for, how to respond and how to remember the threat if it shows up again.
 
Our latest video for our new VaccinesWork YouTube channel breaks down how vaccines actually work, from antibodies and memory cells to the power of herd immunity, the history of smallpox eradication and why maintaining our community “firewall” is essential to keeping diseases like measles at bay.
 
Check out this excerpt, and then watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/eY9RWi6k

RFK Jr., Trump, and MAGA Billionaires' attack on vaccines, Medicaid, and our public health care infrastructure is designed to create a "viral collapse" that will make Americans poorer and sicker.

Some ideas click the moment you see them.

A diagram can do what a paragraph struggles to.
A simple visual can turn something abstract into something clear.

That’s not just preference. It’s how we process information.

Our latest blog explores 𝗗𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 and why words and images work better together. When both are used well, the brain doesn’t have to work as hard to make sense of things. Understanding feels quicker. Memory feels stronger.

Because instead of relying on one path, you’re creating two.

In learning design, this isn’t about adding visuals for the sake of it.
It’s about alignment.

A clear diagram with just enough text.
An image that actually explains, not decorates.

When words and visuals support each other, learning feels lighter. And what feels lighter is easier to remember and use.

📌 Write to 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴@𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺 to craft learning that transforms behaviour.

#LearningDesign #LearningScience #WorkplaceLearning #InstructionalDesign

https://lnkd.in/gKa72Bk8

Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon) a publié des images sur LinkedIn

"The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised its public statement on vaccines and autism in November 2025, suggesting that a possible association between vaccination and autism has not been ruled out with sufficient scientific rigor. Despite its potentially far-reaching public health implications, little is known about how this policy shift, from the previous consensus-based message grounded in the prevailing evidence to the updated uncertainty-based message, affects public perceptions, attitudes, and vaccination intentions. Beyond vaccine-related outcomes, a shift toward uncertainty-based communication may shape broader societal responses, including political polarization around vaccine safety (1), erosion of institutional trust, and increased susceptibility to science-denial reasoning (2)—particularly when uncertainty is emphasized in areas where expert consensus is established. A large-scale online experiment tested the effects of the CDC’s shift in communication, showing that the new uncertainty-based statement amplifies public uncertainty, reduces vaccination intentions, and increases endorsement of science denial strategies."
https://lnkd.in/ginjz_y4

Understanding begins with leadership buying into the importance of Health Literacy. #healthliteracy #medicalleaders #patients #communication #hospitalleadership #improvedhealth #patientoutcomes #readmissions

One truly can't make this stuff up! | 10 comments on LinkedIn

#Measles continues to cause havoc around the world including in the Western Pacific Region. Its preventable and yet there are many complex challenges for getting children vaccinated -> the last mile delivery, surveillance, outbreak response, advocacy & financing. DYK there was over 700% increase compared to 2022.

📈 check out most recent MR epi bulletins here: https://lnkd.in/gQdXbZNc

Congratulations & appreciation for World Health Organization Western Pacific Region Immunization Team for hosting the Regional Consultation on Measles & Rubella Elimination - bringing countries and partners together. Honoured to participate in this first ever regional consultation along with Yanhong (Jessika) HU

✅️ Nine countries with 90% of the region's population & yet to eliminate measles
✅️ Deep dives to discuss epidemiology, policy, strategy and priorities in each setting.
✅️ Opportunities for regional collaboration and concerted efforts.
🚀 Ambition, Acceleration and Resource Allocation
🚧 many challenges including financial constraints, decentralised health systems, coordination, population growth & size, mobility and connectedness.

🤝🏽 As always great to connect with friends & colleagues from across the world 🇱🇦🇵🇭🇦🇺🇵🇬 🇮🇩

🎯 working in alignment with our DFAT & NHMRC funded support efforts to increase coverage, break chains of mealses transmission & close immunity gaps under the #ImmunizationAgenda2030

Sydney Southeast Asia Centre (SSEAC) University of Sydney Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Chris Cannan Shaun Coutts Dr. Saia Ma'u Piukala Huong Tran Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute (Sydney ID) Australian Global Health Alliance

The first generation to truly grow up online, Generation Z and their cohort live in a social media ecosystem that blends facts and feelings. It’s significantly shifting how they understand what’s true.