The “noise” of anti-vaxxers is disproportionate compared to the actual level of the anti-vaccine activism problem, says Dr Sania Nishtar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, while talking at this year’s Nobel Week Dialogue.
“There's this huge buzz about vaccine hesitancy. However, what we see from different countries is very different; we see a huge demand for vaccines from different countries. Of course, there are naysayers, but I would say that in the day and age of social media, the noise gets disproportionate to the actual level of the problem,” she said.
While reflecting on personal experience in vaccine acceptance, she said: “I've had deep engagement with implementing countries and I've been to several countries in Africa. I was recently in the Solomon Islands, and mothers really value vaccination. Governments really value it as one of the most effective tools to reduce child mortality, which is what we just saw: there's a huge demand for new vaccines, such as the malaria vaccine.”
“The world is really waiting for the tuberculosis vaccines. The human papillomavirus vaccine against cervical cancer is one of our most effective vaccines And there's a huge demand for it from countries. So yes, there's an element of vaccine hesitancy but I would say the noise is disproportionate to the size of the actual problem and the evidence of that is the demand that we see from countries,” Nishtar said.
However, Nishtar added that this should not make the health organisations complacent. “There clearly is an imperative to dispel the myths and the misinformation and to rely on evidence and information. And that's part of what we're focusing on,” she said.
A cardiologist by training, Nishtar has served as Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, a position equivalent to that of a Federal Minister. She assumed the role of CEO at Gavi on March 18, 2024.
“If I put on my hat of a former government minister, the health sector faces two major challenges: addressing the unfinished agenda of [maternal, newborn, and child health, reproductive health, and communicable diseases], while also tackling the growing burden of non-communicable diseases,” she said.
It’s crucial to remember that the foundation of health lies in addressing its social determinants. “Factors such as income, employment, education, poverty reduction, government policies, access to clean air and water, sanitation, and adequate housing have the most profound impact on improving health outcomes,” she said during a panel meeting.
Nishtar also highlighted the interplay between government policies and institutional effectiveness.
“Robust government institutions and redistributive policies are vital for creating an enabling environment. Governments play a key role not only in addressing non-communicable diseases but also in promoting healthier choices—ensuring access to nutritious diets, encouraging physical activity, reducing tobacco use, and curbing harmful alcohol consumption. Effective governance is central to progress in these areas,” she asserts.