As RNA-based medicines are poised to transform disease prevention and treatment in the coming decade, public trust in these innovations will be shaped in part by everyday conversations between patients and health care providers. Yet survey data from the BRC suggests that many people in Canada — including health-care workers — have limited understanding of how vaccines are developed, tested, authorized, and monitored, even though more than half indicate that greater knowledge would increase their willingness to be vaccinated.
To help close this gap, the BRC partnered with the University of British Columbia’s RNA and Formulation Core to convene an educational event for health-care practitioners and public health professionals who regularly discuss vaccines and emerging therapeutics with patients. The goal was to strengthen their understanding of mRNA technology and its potential future impact on health care in Canada.
The event featured a screening of The Messenger, a documentary chronicling the 30-year evolution of mRNA science, followed by a panel discussion with leaders in mRNA science, public health, clinical practice, medical anthropology, and regulatory affairs.
- Moderator: Adriana Barton
- Panelists: Dr. Pieter Cullis, Dr. Ève Dubé, Heather Deehan, Dr. Jia Hu, Dr. Steve Pascolo
Together, participants explored recent and upcoming RNA advances and applications beyond COVID-19, while also addressing real-world challenges faced by health-care providers, such as information gaps, polarization, and responding to patient questions in an increasingly complex information environment.
Missed the event? Listen to the recording here:
Outcomes
“Innovation”, “collaboration”, “improved understanding”, “educational”, “potential”, and “perseverance” were the most popular thoughts and key takeaways shared by the audience after watching the documentary.
Attendees wanted the following supports and resources:
- Information tailored for vaccine skeptics
- A guide to safety and risk assessments
- Patient education resources on mRNA
- Funding to support science communication and relevant roles
- Comic book/storybook explaining mRNA technology
- More public outreach and pre-bunking to help people better understand their immune system
