Dynamics in public perceptions and media coverage during an ongoing outbreak of meningococcal W disease in the Netherlands.

ABSTRACT:

Background

From 2015 to 2018, the Netherlands faced an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by serogroup W. To counter the rise in infections, the government introduced a catch-up menACWY vaccination campaign for teenagers in 2018 and 2019. The outbreak situation induced substantial media attention and a run on menACWY vaccines outside the vaccination campaign. This study aimed to gain insights into the dynamics of public perceptions of and responses to the outbreak and the menACWY vaccination, and into the media coverage about the outbreak.

Methods

Three repeated surveys (N = 1110) between 2017 and 2019 were sent to parents of teenagers invited for a menACWY catch-up vaccination, other parents, and individuals with no under-age children. These surveys ass

SUBMITTER: de Vries M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8973985 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature