Vaccine hesitancy is not binary but exists on a spectrum, ranging from medical mistrust to conspiracy theories. Overcoming this hesitancy requires understanding individuals' positions and approaching conversations with empathy. Using derogatory language will only reinforce beliefs, leading to defensiveness. Building trust through empathetic communication and credible messengers can help address vaccine misinformation and skepticism effectively.
One state (cough, cough Florida) is leading the US in measles cases. The contagious disease was once declared eliminated, but Florida’s surgeon general is taking a hands-off approach to managing the outbreak.
This episode was produced by Jesse Alejandro Cottrell and Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by David Herman, and guest-hosted by Haleema Shah.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
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