Resources to address vaccine misinformation

 Caribbean Immunization Technical Advisory Group

Chair Professor Peter Figueroa

Kindly see the below six new guides designed to help health professionals and others fight vaccine misinformation. This is a critical issue that can significantly impact public opinion and affect the vaccination rates.

We trust these resources will be a valuable asset in your ongoing efforts to increase vaccination coverage and protect public health in your communities.

 

Please find all these guides in this link:

Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) for Vaccination - Social communication - PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization

https://www.paho.org/en/topics/immunization/immunization-toolkit/risk-communication-and-community-engagement-rcce#three

 

New Guides for Key Audiences

PAHO has developed six new guides tailored for different groups to help them identify and effectively respond to misinformation.

 

These resources are specifically for:

 

•Health Workers: These professionals are the most trusted source of information on immunization. The guide addresses how doctors and/or nurses can respond to patients who have questions or doubts about vaccination that are sometimes based on misinformation to which they have been exposed.

https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/67678

 

•EPI managers: This is designed to help Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI)managers to increase vaccine trust among health workers.

https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/67680

 

•Risk Communication teams: RCCE teams will have necessary and useful tools and knowledge to combat misinformation in their communication campaigns thanks to this guide.

https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/67675

 

•Journalists: The guide offers tips for providing balanced and factual coverage.

https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/67677

 

•Educators: This resource includes ideas for classroom activities aimed at improving media and health literacy among students.

https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/67679

 

•Content Creators: Materials are available to help this group avoid spreading false information.

https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/67600

 

These new guides highlight the most common misinformation tactics, such as using emotional appeals, promoting conspiracy theories, and misrepresenting facts. They also show users how to spot signs of false content, like poor grammar, excessive punctuation, and misleading headlines.

 

Fighting misinformation isn't enough. We must recognize that vaccination rates are also affected by complex factors like logistical barriers and community standards. To address these broader challenges, we encourage all countries to use other tools such as the guidance on the Social and Behavioral Drivers of Vaccination and microplanning.

 

We trust these resources will be a valuable asset in your ongoing efforts to increase vaccination coverage and protect public health in your communities.

For more information, please visit CIM website: https://www.paho.org/en/topics/immunization/immunization-toolkit/risk-communication-and-

community-engagement-rcce

Congratulations Dr. Alverston Bailey, CD

 

Association of General Practitioners of Jamaica Congratulates Dr. Alverston Bailey, CD

The Association of General Practitioners of Jamaica (AGPJ) proudly extends congratulations to Dr. Alverston Bailey, who has been conferred with the Order of Distinction, Commander Class (CD) by the Government of Jamaica. He will receive this national honor on Jamaica’s National Heroes Day, Monday, October 20, 2025, at the official public awards ceremony.

This distinguished award recognizes Dr. Bailey’s service to Occupational and Family Medicine, as well as his pioneering contributions to public health advocacy, medical education, and national development.

Distinguished Service Across Medicine and Public Health

For more than four decades, Dr. Bailey has exemplified the values of excellence, leadership, and dedication to improving health in Jamaica and across the Caribbean. His career reflects groundbreaking achievements in several key areas:

• Occupational Health: As Chief Medical Officer at Kaiser Jamaica Bauxite Company, Dr. Bailey implemented innovative industrial health programs that became a model for workplace safety and wellness. His certification by the American College of Occupational Medicine underscored his global expertise in this specialty.

• Family Medicine: Dr. Bailey’s leadership extended into general practice and family medicine, where he promoted standards of excellence, collaboration, and professional development. As President of the Medical Association of Jamaica, he spearheaded initiatives such as the Patient Charter of Rights, enhancing advocacy for patients and practitioners alike.

• Public Service: Serving as Chairman of the Pesticides Control Authority (2006–2015), he advanced regulatory reforms in pesticide management, food safety, and environmental health, safeguarding both citizens and the environment.

Commitment to Community and Education

Dr. Bailey has consistently balanced his professional duties with deep service to community, education, and public advocacy:

• Volunteer Leadership: He has served in key roles with the Diabetes Association of Jamaica, the St. Ann Red Cross Society, and multiple national boards.

• Education and Mentorship: Through his teaching and mentorship roles at the University of Technology and other academic institutions, he has shaped the next generation of medical professionals.

• Public Advocacy: His syndicated columns, health broadcasts (On Call with Dr. Al and Sexwise), and his book Sexplanation have educated the public on health and wellness, reaching audiences well beyond the clinic walls.

Recognition and Awards

Dr. Bailey’s outstanding career has been honored with numerous awards, including:

• The Medical Association of Jamaica President’s Award (2003)

• The Caribbean College of Family Physicians Chairperson’s Award (2005)

• Fellowship in the Caribbean College of Family Physicians (2006)

• The Sir Alister McIntyre Distinguished Award (2022) for diabetes education

• The World Family Doctor Day Signature Award (2024)

Now, in 2025, these achievements are crowned with the Commander Class of the Order of Distinction, recognizing his exceptional service to Jamaica.

A Life of Integrity, Service, and Family

Born in Tom Bell, Rio Bueno, Trelawny, Dr. Bailey’s life journey is marked by intellect, service, and virtue. His integrity, leadership, and compassion have earned him respect as both a physician and a public servant.

Alongside his wife of thirty-eight years, Clarissa, and their daughters Krystle and Rochelle, Dr. Bailey remains deeply rooted in family life. He also treasures his role as a grandfather, while balancing his professional legacy with personal passions such as poetry, photography, and mentoring.

His guiding principle stands as a reminder of a life well lived:

“Let your life be so well lived that it stands as a beacon for all to emulate.”

AGPJ Tribute

The Association of General Practitioners of Jamaica salutes Dr. Alverston Bailey, CD on this national honor. His tireless commitment to medicine, public service, and community has transformed healthcare and inspired colleagues, patients, and the wider society.

We are proud to call him one of our own.

Building Mental Resilience in a Changing World: Addressing the Multifaceted Impact of Ageing on Jamaican Primary Health Care and its Professionals

 

Building Mental Resilience in a Changing World: Addressing the Multifaceted Impact of Ageing on Jamaican Primary Health Care and its Professionals

By Dr. Donald Gordon, President, Association of General Practitioners of Jamaica

As we observe World Family Doctor Day (WFDD) 2025 under the global theme, "Building Mental Resilience in a Changing World," the relevance to our Jamaican context is undeniable. This year's local focus, “The Impact of the Ageing Population on Primary Health Care,” chosen by the WFDD Jamaica Planning Committee for our CME conference, underscores a critical intersection—mental resilience and the challenges posed by an ageing population—that demands urgent attention from healthcare stakeholders, both for our patients and our healthcare professionals.

Jamaica, like many other nations, is undergoing a significant demographic shift. The percentage of individuals aged 65 and older is steadily rising, as confirmed by data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). This ageing trend brings with it a host of complex health needs, extending beyond the physical to include profound mental health concerns. Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), cancer, dementia, and cognitive decline are common, but so too are less visible issues like depression and loneliness, which are often exacerbated by social isolation and loss of independence.

As these conditions increasingly co-occur, they place an unprecedented strain on Jamaica’s already overburdened primary healthcare system. The demand for comprehensive, integrated care for the elderly is rising disproportionately, even as their capacity to independently finance their health needs diminishes. This shift presents not just a medical challenge, but a social and economic one, as a shrinking working-age population is left to carry the growing cost burden of elder care.

Currently, the financing of healthcare for the elderly relies on a combination of public and private resources. However, the vast majority of older Jamaicans depend heavily on public health infrastructure, including community clinics and hospitals, and benefit from programs such as the National Health Fund. With demand rising and resources stretched, the sustainability and accessibility of these essential services are increasingly at risk.

Moreover, as the younger population base grows at a slower pace, the availability of trained healthcare professionals may not keep up with the expanding needs of an ageing demographic. This mismatch threatens not only the quality of care but also the mental and emotional well-being of the very professionals tasked with delivering it.

The Toll on Frontline Healthcare Providers

Our primary care providers are at the forefront of this demographic transition. They confront daily the complex realities of caring for older patients with multiple co-existing conditions, many of which have strong psychosocial components. The emotional burden of managing chronic illness, cognitive impairment, and social decline among elderly patients—often without adequate time, staffing, or support—contributes to a growing crisis of provider burnout.

Physicians and healthcare professionals are not immune to the very mental health challenges they treat in others. Burnout, compassion fatigue, anxiety, and depression are real and growing threats within the healthcare workforce. If not addressed, these issues will erode the resilience of the system itself.

Strategies for Strengthening Mental Resilience

To remain effective, primary care providers must prioritize their own well-being. Many do so by embracing self-care strategies such as regular physical activity, healthy eating, and adequate sleep. Seeking support through counselling, establishing strong peer networks, and practicing mindfulness are increasingly essential tools in maintaining mental health. Setting boundaries between work and personal life, though often challenging, is crucial in preventing long-term burnout.

Healthcare institutions, too, must take responsibility. This includes ensuring adequate staffing, offering mental health resources, and fostering a supportive, stigma-free culture around seeking help. Promoting wellness within the profession isn’t optional—it’s foundational to delivering high-quality care.

A Call to Action

The demographic reality of an ageing Jamaica poses a profound and multifaceted challenge. If we are to meet it successfully, we must invest not only in better infrastructure and sustainable financing models, but also in the people who keep our system running—our frontline providers.

As we commemorate World Family Doctor Day 2025, let us embrace the dual challenge of ageing and mental resilience with innovative, integrated, and compassionate strategies. This means designing a health system that simultaneously addresses the physical, mental, and emotional needs of our elderly patients while supporting the professionals who care for them.

By doing so, we will not only safeguard the health of our older citizens but also build a more resilient, responsive, and sustainable healthcare system for the future. Together, we can rise to meet the demands of a changing world—stronger, more united, and more prepared than ever.