Public invited to vaccine hesitancy event

Members of the Brookings community are invited to a facilitated dialogue and expert panel discussion on vaccine hesitancy from 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, May 11, at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center.

“Dialogue Over Dinner: A Conversation on Vaccine Hesitancy” will explore how to communicate about vaccine hesitancy, a complex and important topic affecting many in the community.

The evening will begin with a facilitated discussion using clips from the 2022 documentary “Virulent,” followed by a panel featuring local experts, including a physician, nurse, pharmacist, immunization advocate and health communication specialist.

Public health experts recommend a vaccination rate of at least 93% to prevent outbreaks of diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella. In 2024, Brookings County’s MMR vaccination rate stood at 90%, while other South Dakota counties in the Brookings area reported rates as low as 73%.

The facilitated dialogue and expert panel discussion will engage the public in not only understanding what vaccine hesitancy is and why it exists but also in learning to discuss complicated issues with their healthcare providers. The interdisciplinary nature of the team brings a depth and breadth of expertise that is essential for fostering productive conversations between healthcare professionals and the public.

South Dakota State University’s College of Nursing is accredited as a provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Participants from the nursing profession may earn 1.5 hours of nursing continuing professional development credit by attending the event.

This event is supported in part by the Karen McComish Interdisciplinary Faculty Research Program at South Dakota State University.

Links to view the full version of “Virulent” can be found on the film's website.

For more information on the May 11 event, contact Becky Kuehl, professor and associate academic director in the School of Communication and Journalism at South Dakota State University, or Jenn Anderson.