Emerging Topics

In this episode of Emerging Topics, Dr. Eve Dubé describes evidence-based strategies that public health professionals can use to address vaccine hesitancy. Strategies include mass communication campaigns and one-on-one communication.

Dr. Eve Dubé is a medical anthropologist working at the Institut national de sante publique du Quebec. She is also a researcher at the Research Centre of the CHU-Quebec and a professor in the Anthropology Department at Laval University. Her research focuses on the socio-cultural field surrounding immunization including how to address vaccine hesitancy. She is currently leading the Social Sciences and Humanities Network of the Canadian Immunization Research Network.

In this episode of Emerging Topics, Jessica Merkley discusses how the British Columbia Children’s Hospital implemented a hospital-based immunization clinic, the first of its kind in Canada, to help improve vaccine uptake. http://www.bcchildrens.ca/our-services/clinics/family-immunization#About

Jessica Merkley is the Project Coordinator with the Family Immunization Clinic at the BC Children’s Hospital. Jessica’s work includes exploring ways to optimize clinic efficiency and to support the Family Immunization Clinic in reaching its goal of being a permanent and essential service at BC Children’s Hospital.

In this episode of Emerging Topics, Tara Hills describes her journey from vaccine hesitancy to vaccine confidence and what public health can do to support parents who are vaccine hesitant. 

Tara is a mother of 9 children, who had previously chosen not to vaccinate her children out of concerns. Shortly after Tara’s decision changed to immunize her children, 7 of her children caught whooping cough.

In this episode of Emerging Topics, Dr. Meghan McMurtry explores the topic of needle fear and its impact on vaccine acceptance and uptake.

Guest speaker Dr. Meghan McMurtry is an Associate Professor in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Guelph and director of the Pediatric Pain, Health and Communication Lab. Her research and clinical interests in child health psychology focus on acute and chronic pain, medical procedure-related fear, as well as communication and family influences within the context of pain and fear.

In this episode of Emerging Topics, Dr. Noni MacDonald discusses the rationale, issues, and knowledge gaps of mandatory childhood immunizations.

Guest speaker Dr. Noni MacDonald is a professor of Paediatrics at Dalhousie University and the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dr. MacDonald has been long recognized in Canada and internationally, as a leader in paediatric infectious disease and global health as well as an advocate for children and youth health. 

In this episode of Emerging Topics, Timothy Caulfield discusses the challenges and opportunities for strengthening immunization promotion and building vaccine confidence in an era of fake news. 

Guest speaker Timothy Caulfied is a Canada Research chair in Health Law and Policy, a Professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health, and Research Director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta. He is the author of two national bestsellers: The Cure for Everything: Untangling the Twisted Messages about Health, Fitness and Happiness (Penguin 2012) and Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?: When Celebrity Culture and Science Clash (Penguin 2015). Caulfield is also the host and co-producer of the documentary TV show, A User’s Guide to Cheating Death.