Effective communication and public engagement strategies to counter misinformation about infectious diseases

TL;DR

The paper discusses how scientists can improve public trust and vaccine uptake by using inclusive communication and community engagement to counter misinformation about infectious diseases.

Contribution

The paper introduces a framework combining engagement, vaccine communication, and data presentation to build trust and counter misinformation in public health.

Findings

Co-produced messaging and community champions help build trust, especially among marginalized groups.

Clarity, transparency, and ethical framing in data presentation are critical for public understanding.

Participatory approaches improve comprehension and trust in public health communication.

Abstract

Effective communication and public engagement are essential components of infectious disease control, yet they remain underdeveloped in the field of immunology. This review explores how immunologists and scientists can contribute to countering misinformation and improving vaccine uptake through inclusive, culturally sensitive engagement. Drawing on historical and contemporary case studies, we examine how trust, cognitive biases, and community involvement shape public responses. We highlight the importance of co‐produced messaging and the role of community champions in building trust, particularly among marginalized groups. Vaccine communication is analyzed through the lens of the five Cs: confidence, complacency, convenience, communication, and context. We discuss how demographic and structural barriers, historical mistrust, and politicization of health messaging contribute to declining vaccine uptake and propose tailored strategies to address these challenges. The final section focuses on data presentation as a core foundation of public communication, emphasizing that clarity, transparency, and ethical framing are critical to public understanding. We outline principles for designing trustworthy visuals, mitigating cognitive biases, and embedding context directly within graphics to prevent misinterpretation. Participatory approaches to data communication are shown to improve comprehension and trust, especially when co‐developed with affected communities. Together, these domains—engagement, vaccine communication, and data presentation—form a foundation for resilient public health responses. By integrating immunological expertise with inclusive communication strategies, scientists can play a central role in fostering informed decision making and strengthening public cooperation in future outbreaks.

Public trust and cooperation in infectious disease control rest on three pillars: engagement, vaccine communication, and data presentation. Together, these foundations support resilient and inclusive public health responses to misinformation and uncertainty.

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