Robb Butler’s Post

Every day, thousands of letters are sent from health authorities to patients, to encourage them to get vaccinated, do their cancer screening or do a health check-up. Many of these letters could be improved to motivate people to take action for their health, drawing on behavioural and cultural insights. WHO/Europe’s new policy brief gives concrete steps that help health authorities draft impactful health letters: ✔️ ensure a clear call to action ✔️ keep a letter short and simple ✔️ address the barriers and drivers of behaviours, by for example clarifying services are free of charge ✔️ draw on relevant psychological mechanisms such as social norms ✔️ adapt a letter to a cultural context ✔️ attract the readers’ attention with the email subject or letter envelope ✔️ use the right sender and signatory ✔️ test the letter and engage with the intended recipients ✔️ use reminders Read the full policy brief here: https://bit.ly/3ZUX8cZ #BehaviouralScience #BCI

💉 Years on, does vaccination remain a priority and how are people managing symptoms? With the Social Meaning app, healthcare brands like Pfizer can go straight to the source, uncovering nuanced conversations shaping public opinion around critical topics like flu and COVID-19. The app scans social media, search history, and news to reveal key themes, like the importance of public health education, targeted risk management, and healthcare system preparedness. Ask 10 free questions on Social Meaning today: https://lnkd.in/diyYK3Zq

Happy World Health Day! Here is a cool timeline of major public health milestones over the decades. One of my favorites is the 2022 One Health declaration, appreciating health as evolving from the framework of our global ecosystem. Many people think public health is all sanitation and vaccinations, but of course it's so much more- psychosocial, political, and ecological. Here's to health for all! https://lnkd.in/gTZJ4vyT

https://lnkd.in/eM7NW2N4 Safe drinking water, seat belts, smoke-free buildings, modern sanitation and vaccinations are just some of the ways public health policies and advances have saved lives. A four-part PBS documentary that launches March 26 explores the rise and successes of U.S. public health, and also the the factors that threaten it.

Communicating effectively about certain public health topics can be a challenge😮💨Sometimes we’re countering personal beliefs, tradition, religion, culture and a host of other factors, including prior misinformation. Vaccines is definitely one of those topics, which is why it’s so great that Public Health Communications Collaborative has developed a library of vaccine resources so public health professionals don’t have to go at it alone. Explore newly tested messages to open conversations with vaccine-hesitant people, updated messaging to inform your 2024-24 flu and COVID-19 campaigns, and virtual trainings and reports on trending vaccine narratives. Check out the content here: https://lnkd.in/eGacc6RS #PHCCAmbassador 💉

Personally, I have been very fortunate (...and I try to “count all my blessings" and not take anything for granted). I have gone 1500+ consecutive days untouched by COVID since the WHO declared the pandemic Mar 2020 (analyzing data, calculating risks, taking sufficient precautions, masking, distancing, etc.). I can survive without the WHO, but I don't think it should be completely dismantled. The WHO started from a good place, it simply needs to "stay in its lane" and provide studies and data, for countries, communities and individuals to devise their own strategies....as opposed to imposing one (experimental, ineffective) strategy on an entire population. The WHO should be one of many independent, privately-funded organizations, serving in an advisory capacity- not a global governing body (with corporate influences/interests). Its guidelines (specifically involving vaccines) should be recommendations and NOT be legally binding. The WHO has not demonstrated any significant "know-how" or the safety and effectiveness any of these one-size-fits-all shots. Countries should maintain sovereignty. Citizens should be allowed to vaxx on their own volition without mandates, coercion or deception, litigate if they suffer adverse effects, and be properly compensated. Since (real) vaccines protect the body from the inside, anyone who is (truly) vaccinated is safe from infection where ever they go, regardless of the vaccination status of those around them. My vaxx status does not effect or infringe on any one else’s (right to) health. Therefore, since vaccines help develop *personal* protection (like training an internal army), getting vaxxed is a personal, private medical decision (protected by HIPAA), not an obligation to an employer or community, ...especially since no one is obligated to offer aid to those who have been vaxx injured. The end result of forcing “aid” on a healthy person, that actually harms them, and then not offering aid to remedy the situation is no different than recklessly injuring that person and assuming no responsibility. It’s simply unethical and immoral. Citizens should also be able to exercise freedom of speech regarding their personal experiences after getting vaxxed across all social media without facing censorship. "Misinformation" is not imperative- it causes no real, physical harm, but mandates can cause some people to lose jobs, homes, and worse. The World Health Assembly is meeting May 27 - Jun 1 to revise the WHO Pandemic Treaty empowering them to mandate "health products" = substances with unpredictable effects (S.U.E's), censor citizens across social media and extend protection for drug makers against litigants seeking compensation for vaxx injuries. Ask your U.S. senators and representatives to require Senate ratification of both WHO pandemic preparedness treaties. Ask your state attorney general to join the 22 AGs who requested the President to resist WHO governance in their state.

The Health and Social Care Committee of the House of Commons has published a report entitled: ‘Prevention in Health and Social Care: healthy places’, (19 January 2024). It recognises the vital role of place in preventing ill health. For example, it quotes from Professor Sir Chris Whitty: If you look back over the last 150 years, more has been done for public health by proper planning than almost any other intervention (except, perhaps, vaccination). p.11 Planners everywhere know this to be true and are all too aware of the origins of the profession in public health and design issues. Nevertheless, it is important to continue to draw attention to the importance of good planning. The report can be found here: https://lnkd.in/e7WFiZAX

Planning as we know it today began with grave concerns about how the free market was delivering jobs, homes and damaging the environment to the point it shortened lives or killed people. The report below follows that vein of concern and serves to highlight that planning should not be a tick box of PD it should be properly resourced to facilitate better places and better lives. Our Westminster politicians must do better.

Lord Darzi’s ‘Independent Investigation of the National Health Service in England’, published today, is a milestone document. As the report says on page one, “the National Health Service is in serious trouble”. But what I like about today’s announcement is Lord Darzi’s optimism: “It’s going to take time to fix it. But we in the NHS have turned things around before. And I am confident we will do it again”. Meningitis Now’s submission to the investigation identified three issues: 1. Vaccination: system leadership and uptake 2. Timely diagnosis, treatment and management of disease 3. Improving follow-up and aftercare A focus on these areas will improve the safety, efficacy and patient experience of care on the #NHS and save lives through #prevention. Not just for people who have experience of #meningitis but also many others. Let’s seize the moment – and this sense of optimism – to improve care now and into the future. Image is a picture of Lord Darzi speaking at the launch of Meningitis Now's report, 'Understanding the experiences and support needs of adults with meningitis', at the House of Lords in June 2023. See: https://lnkd.in/eX4mHQxy Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham OM KBE PC FRS, NHS England, Rt. Hon. Wes Streeting MP, Department of Health and Social Care, UK Health Security Agency #vaccination #lordDarzi #patientsafety #leadership #optimism #prevention

🛡️ Elevate your client interactions with our "Interpersonal Communication and Counseling: Improving Dialogue About Vaccination and Other Sensitive Topics" online learning course. Designed for health professionals, this training enhances your ability to navigate sensitive topics, counter misinformation, and encourage positive health behaviors. Learn techniques that foster trust and promote informed decision-making in any health context, particularly in addressing vaccine hesitancy. Explore the course here: https://lnkd.in/ep5QscS7 #WorldImmunizationWeek #VaccineHesitancy #HumanlyPossible | USAID | World Health Organization