POST 00647E : COMBATING RUMOURS
Follow-up on Post 00619E and 00643E
8 March 2004
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Hande Harmanci (mailto:[log in to unmask]) from Marmara University,
Turkey, shares an article published in the journal "Public Health" { Public
Health 117 (2003) } reviewing reasons for non-vaccination during NIDs
in Istanbul. Rumours are one of the identified reasons even though with
much less impact than what happens in Nigeria. Hande is the leading author.
In January, WHO issued a "Position Statement" signed by Dr. Daniel
Tarantola directed specifically at Nigeria. You will also find the document
attached.
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I believe that as a group we must react to the Nigerian situation. Global
achievements are threatened, for now in neighbouring countries, but it is
only a question of time before importations happen elsewhere, mainly in
Europe. Delays caused by this situation to the Initiative as a whole means
that the world is denied the full benefits of reaching the objective.
Billions invested not only do not yield expected dividends but more
investments are made necessary.
If rumours have such an impact and result in polio cases, indigenous or
imported, what should we do? Isn't there criminal liability somewhere? This
is my opinion, how should we react? Would love your reactions.
The Moderator
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We also had problems with rumours in Turkey about NIDs starting with the
second year of implementation. The main rumour was that the vaccine causes
sterility. Even though there are no structured studies reporting on this,
health personnel "knew" that this was the case. (Still, I believe that if
it is not documented, it doesn't exist.) When I was the health
administrator in one of the districts of Istanbul, we just tried to
overcome the situation through health personnel. Those with better
communication skills could vaccinate more children obviously. Luckily, the
rumour waned in subsequent years. I sincerely do not know how this happened
though. It may have been us, the health team, or some other factor or most
probably, a combination of those...
I am attaching a published document on reasons for non-vaccination in 1999
NIDs in Istanbul. This document mentions some information about rumours. I
hope it would be useful to those interested.
Warm regards,
Prof.Dr.Hande Harmanci,
Marmara University Medical Faculty,
Department of Public Health,
Haydarpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
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