[Reporter's View] Transparent info, the key to vaccine trust

Starting on the 15th of this month, simultaneous administration of COVID-19 and influenza perioperative vaccines has begun for older adults aged 65 and older and high-risk groups.

 

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has informed that the rate of adverse events from simultaneous vaccination does not exceed that seen with each vaccine administered individually.

 

Since this measure targets highly vulnerable groups, including the elderly and those with chronic diseases, minimizing vaccination anxiety and ensuring safety are crucial.

 

Nevertheless, some recent research findings and statistics are being misinterpreted, leading to instances in which vaccines are interpreted as directly or indirectly linked to the occurrence of specific diseases.

 

Trust in vaccines remains a challenge overseas as well.

 

In the United States, controversy has arisen due to recent actions by the public health authorities of the Donald Trump administration, who attempted to link the COVID-19 vaccine to the deaths of 25 children.

 

Some sources argue that the U.S.

 

government is systematically spreading false information about vaccines.

 

Although anxiety is spreading due to some shared reports that the incidence of specific diseases has increased after vaccination, medical data must always be analyzed by considering key variables.

 

Even if a numerical difference appears, it does not necessarily imply causation.

 

Various factors, including sample composition, observation period, lifestyle, and underlying conditions, can influence the results.

 

The COVID-19 vaccine, developed using new technology and available for less than 6 years, also contributes to concerns about its long-term safety.

 

In this situation, the government and medical professionals have a responsibility to inform the public using objective information thoroughly and to uphold the credibility of the National Immunization Program (NIP).

 

Concerns about simultaneous vaccination must also be addressed transparently, based on scientific evidence.

 

Concealing or minimizing adverse event reports may temporarily quell anxiety, but it ultimately damages overall public health confidence.

 

Medical professionals and researchers must accumulate objective data through rigorous research processes and explain the results to the public as they are.

 

Transparent communication, founded on ethics and responsibility, is the starting point for building sustainable public health trust.

 

The NIP can only function properly when the public receiving the vaccine, the researchers conducting the studies, and the government guiding the policy all understand this process and fulfill their roles.

 

It is crucial to remember that the very inclusion and implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine in the NIP already guarantees objectivity and trustworthiness.

 

The vaccination program's design, review process, clinical trial data analysis, and adverse event monitoring are the outcomes of scientific verification.

 

Even if there are concerns, the overall confidence cannot be shaken by a single piece of data or political claim.

 

The anxiety and fatigue remaining after the pandemic still cause people to react sensitively to biased information.

 

It must be recognized that an approach centered on scientific evidence and transparent communication is the only way to maintain vaccine confidence and protect the sustainable safety net of public healthcare.