Research area: Infection, Immunity and Global Health > Epidemiology Informatics

About the project

VaxPulse is continuously spotting and measuring false vaccine information online. It’s a smart system that improves through learning over time. It also allows testing different ways to respond to false information using practice situations, to see what works best.

Once the best responses are found, they could be shared through platforms like social media to fight the spread of false vaccine news. VaxPulse keeps checking what happens and keeps improving how it works, helping governments and health organisations act quickly when there’s a problem with vaccine misinformation.

As part of this strategy, we’re also creating a misinformation infopack, a simple, practical toolkit for immunisers and community educators. It’s designed to support clear conversations at the point of care or out in the community, with information about current misinformation spreading in communities, and resources that help explain the facts and challenge false claims.

We’re keen to partner with GPs, immunisers and paediatricians who are navigating tough vaccine questions, and we’ll share what we’re learning to help them stay ahead.

What is false information?

False information can be broken down into two different categories:

• Misinformation: False or inaccurate information that is spread without harmful intent. It is often shared by mistake and is shared by someone who believes it is true.
• Disinformation: False information that is deliberately created and shared to mislead, deceive, or harm people, organisations, or countries. This includes malicious content like propaganda, hoaxes, and fabricated news and opinion.
  
  

Our impact

VaxPulse will help in many ways:

• More people would get vaccinated in Australia and the countries we work with by using smart technology and clear communication.
• Scientists and tech experts will learn better ways to deal with the spread of false information about vaccines.
• Health workers and educators will be better equipped to have clear, confident conversations with the public, using practical tools about emerging misinformation directly.
• Partner countries will build new skills, like how to watch and respond to misinformation, and train young researchers to keep doing this work.
• Fewer people will get sick or die from diseases that can be stopped by vaccines, which will also help local communities and economies.
  
  

Funding & collaborations

VaxPulse is supported by the Australian Government through the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative.

This project is working with partners in the Asia Pacific region, Canada, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Contact us

For more information about VaxPulse, please contact us.

Dr Gerardo Luis Dimaguila Informatics Lead, Epidemiology Informatics
Email: show email address