Yes, it's very important. I've spoken at length about the impact of social media and disinformation on adolescent anxiety. I nevertheless think there are a lot of echo chambers in all the sources of information parents use. This generation of parents wants to understand, know and control the situation and that directly feeds into a collective anxiety. As they look for various sources of information, each of which is less reliable than the next, they become lost at sea. Parents seeking greater control over their children's health unfortunately encounter disinformation. That's what constantly brings us back to prevention. People swing into action once the problems are established, but all prevention programs are unfortunately viewed as an inferior solution, even though studies clearly show they have major positive impacts on children's health.
One of my colleagues here in Sherbrooke is working hard to raise vaccination awareness. His research project has proven its worth and has gone international. It's simple: within a few hours of a child's birth, he meets with the parents to dedramatize the situation, answer questions and deconstruct the myths surrounding vaccination, all in a non-threatening way. When a doctor tells parents they have to vaccinate their child, they immediately go on the defensive. However, when you inform them and listen to their concerns in the few hours after the child is born, that has a major positive impact on the vaccination rate in the following months. So the paternalistic approach should be avoided. Parents need to control the situation and to understand why things are as they are. By listening to their questions, you can better deconstruct the myths.
You're correct in noting that, despite the enormous progress made in the past 20 years to improve living conditions and treat infectious diseases, the threat at this stage is still disinformation. You have to be open to parental concerns.