A report from the Annenberg Public Policy Center explains why the federal vaccine safety reporting system, or VAERS, should be renamed.
Research Findings
Instead of Refuting Misinformation Head-On, Try ‘Bypassing’ It
A new study co-authored by Dolores Albarracín finds that redirecting an individual’s attention away from misinformation and toward other beliefs can be as effective as debunking it.
Women of Childbearing Age More Doubtful About Safety of Flu, Covid-19 Vaccines During Pregnancy
The policy center's spring 2023 ASAPH report finds that women of childbearing age are more likely than other adults to doubt the safety of vaccination against Covid-19 and flu during pregnancy.
Matt Levendusky on ‘Our Common Bonds’ and Bridging Our Differences
In a Q&A, Penn political scientist Matt Levendusky, head of APPC's Institutions of Democracy, discusses his book "Our Common Bonds" and reducing partisan animosity.
Some Covid Statistics More Effective Than Others at Changing Behavioral Decisions
A new study from Dolores Albarracín and Haesung Annie Jung finds that some Covid-19 statistics are more effective than others at encouraging people to change their behavior.
Flu Vaccination Rate Holds Steady But Misinformation About Flu and Covid Persists
An Annenberg Science Knowledge survey of over 1,600 U.S. adults finds that many have a base of knowledge about the flu, but misinformation about flu, Covid-19, and vaccination persists.
Seasonal Changes in Adolescent Suicide Explain Controversial ’13 Reasons Why’ Findings
An analysis of weekly suicide data finds that seasonal fluctuations can explain controversial findings that the adolescent suicide rate increased with release of “13 Reasons Why."
The Undying Holiday-Suicide Myth
The false claim that the suicide rate rises during the year-end holiday season persisted in some news coverage through the 2021-22 holidays, according to data analyzed by APPC.
What U.S. Adults Know and Believe About Polio and the Bivalent Covid Booster
The latest Annenberg Science Knowledge (ASK) national panel survey examines public knowledge and beliefs about the poliovirus, the bivalent Covid-19 vaccine booster, monkeypox, and other matters of public health.
Commentary: The Impacts of Non-Violent, Disruptive Climate Change Protests
Penn climate scientist Michael Mann and APPC's Shawn Patterson, Jr., draw on survey research to explore the impacts of non-violent, disruptive protests on public perceptions of climate change.