The Department of Health’s Science of Immunisation: Questions and Answers guide has been updated to promote the benefits and safety of vaccines.
The extended guide has been released in the midst of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign, and the disturbing figures that show nearly a third of the population say they are unwilling to be vaccinated.
With this in mind, and the realisation that this pandemic is unlikely to be the last, the guide has a section dealing with what the future holds for vaccination.
In a statement, the Department said it partnered with the Australian Academy of Science to update the guide.
“The guide reflects the most up-to-date evidence and science behind immunisation and contains a new video about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines,” the Department said.
“A working group of leading scientists, doctors, science communicators and experts in language and social sciences oversaw the update of the guide.”
It said the publication, containing a series of short videos and in-depth articles, summarised the current understanding of immunisation around five key questions: What is immunisation? What is in a vaccine? Who benefits from vaccines? Are vaccines safe? What does the future hold for vaccination?
The 26-page guide, including the videos and articles, is available at the Australian Academy of Science website at this PS News link.
