Welcome to May’s edition of Trust Matters, your go-to resource for strengthening trust in health. This issue spotlights the publics’ trust in health information and vaccine safety, the ways in which the U.S. measles surge is a sign of public health’s trust issues, how ordinary citizens can shape health policy, and verified practices to counter disinformation.
🔹 Key Takeaways
- Trust Crisis in Public Health: Recent KFF polling shows less than half of the public express confidence in government health agencies
- Evidence Remains Clear: Johns Hopkins researchers reaffirm there is no scientific link between vaccines and autism, highlighting the persistence of this misinformation despite overwhelming scientific consensus
- Physician Communication Gap: Healthcare providers need new approaches as traditional medical authority no longer automatically translates to patient trust
- Global Disinformation Response: Several countries are developing specialized agencies and coordinated strategies to counter disinformation, with the EU, UK, and US adopting varied approaches that offer lessons for health communication
- Resource Mobilization: New toolkits and webinars are becoming available to help public health professionals address misinformation effectively in their communities
In a world where misleading content and falsehoods continue to spread, building trust in the information we rely on is more crucial than ever to support protective health decision-making.
Together, we’re advancing strategies, sharing valuable resources, and strengthening the foundations of trust in the health information ecosystem.
View the May 2025 Trust Matters newsletter.
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