August is National Immunization Awareness Month. Teach about the impact of disinformation, science skepticism & government distrust on vaccination efforts with The Invisible Shield. This four-part documentary series highlights public health’s major successes and the heroes who make them possible every day
From the early days of inoculation in the late 1700s through the rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine, scientists have achieved extraordinary feats to combat, contain, and eradicate disease — but solutions only work if people trust the science. The Invisible Shield explores how disinformation, science skepticism, and government distrust impact vaccination efforts. It highlights how historical injustices and inequities lead to apprehension, forcing public health to refine its approach.
The Inoculation, Inequity, and Public Trust section of our free Discussion Guide for The Invisible Shield focuses on the connection between public trust and public health. This section explores historical factors leading to the erosion of trust in public health, particularly regarding vaccines, and looks at the importance of community outreach to improve trust. It’s a great way to get students in grade 11 through higher education and public health career candidates excited about careers in epidemiology and related fields.
Celebrate Immunization Awareness Month with this powerful teaching tool for individual learners, classrooms, and community education. Learn more about The Invisible Shield and our free Discussion Guide.
PS Looking for more healthcare-related resources? You may also enjoy:
- A Towering Task, which includes a collegiate-level resources for teaching about health disparity and health gradients as well as collegiate-level resources for Public Health education;
- Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution, which explores disability, ableism, and disability justice;
- From the Ashes, which explores coal and public health;
- Greener Pastures, about the rural mental health care crisis;
- Health Wanted: Finding Care in Rural America, in partnership with the American Heart Association;
- Matter of Mind: My Parkinson’s, in partnership with Indie Lens Pop-Up and PBS Independent Lens, about Parkinson’s Disease;
- Unzipped: An Autopsy of American Inequality, which explores homelessness, poverty and social determinants of health.