HPV vaccine reporting in Taiwan: media and politics, 2005-2018.

Abstract

This study analyzes the media coverage of HPV vaccines in Taiwan from 2005 to 2018, with a focus on adherence to World Health Organization (WHO) media guidelines and the influence of election cycles on reporting patterns. A content analysis of 911 articles from four major newspapers revealed peaks in 2008, 2014, and 2018 election years, coinciding with vaccines policy rollouts. Most articles (78 percent) appeared in national news sections, with medical professionals cited in 36.3 percent of cases. Coverage primarily emphasized vaccine policy (36.3 percent) and health education (36.4 percent), with 83 percent of articles portraying HPV vaccination positively and 88 percent explicitly endorsing it. However, only 42 percent adhered to WHO's media communication guidelines, and headlines often misaligned with article content. These findings highlight the media's advocacy role during key political and public health events, while underscoring the need for improved journalistic practices to ensure accurate, guideline-consistent vaccine communication.