Looking Back on Dissemination: Paula Dau at the European Health Psychology Society Congress
- Jun 3
- 2 min read
As we continue to look back on a rich year of scientific outreach within Yellow4FLAVI, we are proud to highlight the contribution of Paula Hanna Dau, PhD student in Prof. Odette Wegwarth's group at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, who presented her work at the European Health Psychology Society (EHPS) Annual Congress, held in Groningen.
🦟 Paula presented a poster entitled "Acceptance of novel vaccine technologies: an exploration of hesitancy, trust, and information needs", as part of the poster session on risks for acute and chronic conditions — sharing the first results from our Social Sciences Work Package.
What the research is about
Public mistrust in vaccines can become a significant challenge when novel technologies are involved — as powerfully illustrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team’s work explores the attitudes of vaccine-hesitant individuals towards novel vaccines, and how informational needs, trust, and risk perception shape their acceptance.
Drawing on 39 participants across 8 focus group discussions, spanning two age groups (18–39 and 40–65 years) and four regions of Germany, this qualitative study used thematic analysis to uncover what drives — or hinders — acceptance of novel vaccine technologies.
Key findings point to four interconnected dimensions:
📋 Unbiased information — participants express strong needs for transparent, independent information, particularly in the wake of mRNA vaccine narratives
🔬 Trust in information sources — scientists and general practitioners emerge as the most trusted voices, while politicians are viewed critically
⚖️ Risk perception — perceived disease severity drives vaccination decisions more than the technology itself; many participants acknowledge lacking the knowledge to make informed risk assessments
🙋 Autonomy — voluntariness is a core principle of acceptance; coercion and social pressure are firmly rejected
💡 Key learning: vaccine technology may not be the main barrier — trust, transparency and autonomy are. Future vaccine communication strategies should proactively build trust, address concerns openly, and reach people before misinformation fills the gap.
A fantastic contribution from Paula, and a vital piece of the Yellow4FLAVI puzzle — reminding us that effective vaccination goes far beyond the science of immunity. Congratulations! 👏🦟
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