925: KFF Tracking Poll, Youth Vaccines

JANSON SILVERS: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Wednesday, June 11, 2025. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

LIZ HAMEL: 

What we really do with these polls is try and understand where people are getting their information about health topics. What types of information sources they trust?

SILVERS: 

The latest KFF Tracking Poll on Information and Trust was recently released, and it has important information for public health leaders. Here's KFF's Liz Hamel.

HAMEL: 

We do find that small shares of the public are really convinced by outright falsehoods about vaccines and other topics. But lots of people fall into a gray area. They're at least somewhat uncertain whether to believe some of the false claims that have been circulating on social media and in other places.

SILVERS: 

Hamel says, this presents an opportunity.

HAMEL: 

I think that one of the things that public health professionals can do is to really think about meeting people where they are with factual health information. Our polls have found that younger people are particularly likely to turn to social media, including sites like TikTok for health information and advice.

SILVERS: 

Hamel also says social media is a double-edged sword that public health can use for good.

HAMEL: 

We know that this use of social media can be an opportunity for false and misleading information to spread, but I think it also presents an opportunity for skilled communicators and public health to reach out with science-based messages to dispel some of those myths before they take hold.

SILVERS: 

KFF's full Tracking Poll is online now. Click the link in the show notes to read it today.

The New Jersey Department of Health has launched the Protect Me with 3+ campaign. The goal is to educate adolescents about the importance of vaccinations. Here's Tina Tan, an epidemiologist with the New Jersey Department of Health.

TINA TAN: 

Through this campaign, students learn why vaccinations are important, where to access vaccines, such as through their healthcare providers, local health departments, federally-qualified health centers, as well as how to find vaccines for no cost through the Vaccines for Children Program.

SILVERS: 

The campaign has been largely welcomed by schools across the state.

TAN: 

And of course, teachers and school nurses, they are our biggest campaign advocates. The contest has been incorporated into health, science, art, and telecommunication classes.

SILVERS: 

Tan says the campaign emphasizes the importance of vaccines for all age groups.

TAN:

We want to remind everybody, all of our healthcare partners, our local health partners, that you don't outgrow the need for vaccines. Preteens and teens need vaccines, too, which is the main purpose and the main impetus behind this particular campaign.

SILVERS: 

Use the link in the show notes to learn more about New Jersey's Protect Me with 3+ campaign.

Also on deck this week, a workshop on building trust in public health. O'Keyla Cooper explains.

O'KEYLA COOPER: 

Join ASTHO tomorrow, Thursday, June 12, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time for a vital conversation on protecting public health and building trust. Learn how communication, collaboration, and community engagement can help dispel false information and strengthen public confidence during health crises. There's still time to register using the link in the show notes.

SILVERS: 

Finally, this morning, news from Washington, D.C. that affects public health is at an all-time high. Make sure you never miss an important piece of information when you sign up for ASTHO's Legislative Alerts. The latest breaking legal news that affects you and your team is delivered straight to your inbox. The link to sign up is in the show notes.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Janson Silvers. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.