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Oregon Partnership to Immunize Children (OPIC)
10 Tips for Evaluating Information on the Internet:
September 1, 2007
A reminder from OPIC - Parents should be aware that although there is lots of information about vaccinations on the web and in the media, not all of that information can be trusted. Parents should ask their child's doctor or nurse for advice and guidance about reliable, evidence-based resources for learning about immunizations.
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- The ownership of the website should be clear.
- The information provided should be based on sound scientific study.
- The website should carefully weigh the evidence and acknowledge the limitations of the work.
- Beware of "junk science" and suggestions of "conspiracies".
- The individuals or group providing the information should be qualified to address the subject matter.
- Arguments should be based on facts, not conjecture.
- The motives of the website should be clear.
- The information provided should make sense (i.e., if it seems too good to be true, it probably is).
- The website contains references from and to recognized peer-reviewed publications.
- You should be able to obtain additional information if you need it.
Source: Adapted from CDC's website (www.cdc.gov/od/nvpa/people.htm) by the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC), and printed in the Spring, 2001, edition of Needle Tips.
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