title: Communication about vaccination: A shared responsibility.
abstract: Vaccine hesitancy is an important issue to be addressed, due to the risk of decrease of vaccination coverage and consequent control of preventable diseases. While it is not considered a specific determinant, poor or inadequate communication can contribute to vaccine hesitancy and negatively influence vaccination uptake. As a contribution to the ongoing discussion regarding this theme and in the perspective of the implementation of the upcoming national vaccination plan in Italy, the Erice Declaration was drafted by experts in the field of immunization following a 5-day residential, independent workshop regarding communication topics in vaccinology. The aim of the current letter is to present to the broader international audience such a contribution, proposing the identification of the main actions that should be taken into account and prioritized in order to improve communication in the domain of vaccination.
authors.affiliation: a University Contract Lecturer in Vaccinology , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Biasio
authors.affiliation: b Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care "G. D'Alessandro," University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corsello
authors.affiliation: b Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care "G. D'Alessandro," University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costantino
authors.affiliation: c Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases , "La Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fara
authors.affiliation: d Department of Hygiene and Public Health , University of Catania , Catania , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giammanco
authors.affiliation: e Department of Biomedical , Biotechnological and Translational Sciences, University of Parma , Parma , Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Signorelli
authors.affiliation: b Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care "G. D'Alessandro," University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vecchio
authors.affiliation: b Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care "G. D'Alessandro," University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vitale
mesh_terms: D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004493:Education; D058015:Health Communication; D006266:Health Education; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Italy; communication; national vaccination plan; vaccination coverage; vaccine hesitancy