Is ‘conflict of interest’ a Misnomer? Managing interests in immunization research and evaluation

Abstract

Potential conflicts of interest in vaccine research can lead to negative consequences that undermine public trust and thereby put communities at risk. However, collaborations that may give rise to potential conflicts between interests can also greatly facilitate appropriate, scientifically robust, and timely vaccine development, implementation, and evaluation. At present, policies regarding the management of potential conflicts between interests are not ideal. To optimally manage interests in vaccine research, we recommend acknowledging all forms of interests and treating them all as relevant, developing appropriate collaborations, referring to all "conflicts of interest" simply as "interests" or "declarations," and promoting transparency through developing consistent reporting mechanisms.

Addressing conflicts of interest regarding the vaccine in infectious disease outbreaks based on good governance for health approach: a policy brief

“… 18 Strengthening the media's role by providing support for monitoring and clarifying COI cases and advocating for policy-making aimed at effectively addressing COI [ 64 , 65 ]. 19 Raising awareness and strengthening advocacy by informing society about COI cases through websites and social media platforms [ 66 ]. 20 Establishing a platform to facilitate the engagement of civil society in decision-making processes concerning vaccines, enabling their participation through various communication channels such as mobile software and hotlines for reporting and feedback [ 46 ].…”

“…To empower community advocacy, establishing a transparent central system accessible to the public is essential [ 66 ]. However, sharing a list of COI cases with the public is ineffectual and undermines trust in policymakers.…”

Research and Nonresearch Industry Payments for COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines in the United States

“…While vaccines developed for the coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) are highly effective (1) , only 67.4% and 48.5% of US citizens received full vaccination and additional first booster vaccination, respectively, as of August 30, 2022 (2) . One possible explanation for vaccine hesitancy is concern over financial relationships between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and organizations (HCOs) and pharmaceutical companies manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines (3) , (4) . However, the information is lacking on these financial relationships in the US.…”