ESSAY TOPIC: For my topic, I will be discussing vaccinations and the misinformation associated with receiving vaccines. Specifically, the spread of misinformation regarding supposed vaccine side effects that in turn result in a decline in important preventative care. This topic interests me because I have been around many people who refuse vaccination because they believe that vaccines have negative long-term effects. I am excited to expand on my personal observations with research as I learn more about this healthcare issue. The misinformation that has spread about vaccines have instilled a fear in the public who do not have a medical background. This is not only an issue within healthcare, but an overall issue between the public’s opinion versus medical experts and scientific facts. There are various solutions that may help address this issue, with the most important being spreading awareness. This is especially important for those who do not have a background in medicine. It is very important that correct information is being shared online and that it is easily interpretable for everyone. With the correct measures, people will realize how beneficial vaccinations are, how they work, and what viruses and diseases they can prevent. In the long run, an increase in vaccine administration can lead to herd immunity, less hospitalizations, and less healthcare resource burdens. Problem statement: Vaccine hesitancy is a serious issue that is driven by the misinformation spread by the public, affecting the overall state of the public’s health. This issue especially rose after the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the public questioning the safety profile of the COVID-19 vaccines and the possible long-term side effects. This is important for the health of the overall public as vaccine hesitancy can lead to less immunity and an increase in the number of cases as viruses easily spread to those who are not immune. RUBRIC: The purpose of this assignment is to develop a strong, working foundation for your final paper. You will identify a topic area and develop a problem- or issue-related topic within that area of interest. As you develop this specific topic, keep in mind that your eventual goal is to formulate and present a solution to the healthcare issue or problem you identify. Your topic proposal should include the following items and address the following: Describe the topic you wish to pursue. It may be somewhat broad at this point and it may imply a problem. Use the Additional Resources in your course materials to help you search for ideas. Identify your purpose: Why are you interested in this topic? (Narrow your topic.) Specifically explain what it is that fascinates you or draws you to this topic. Clearly describe the topic’s relevance in the field today. Identify a purpose for a paper on this topic: What might you accomplish in exploring this problem? What is your intended goal? To evoke change To make new connections (new cause and effect) To introduce a new theory, solution, or idea Is this goal realistic? Identify a problem within the topic and draft a problem statement. (It will likely evolve and be revised as you progress through your research.) Identify a problem related to your topic and state it. The problem statement should be specific and indicate the focus of your final paper. Not too narrow, not too broad Intellectually challenging (a simple solution is not apparent) Who would benefit from a solution to this problem (who is the target population)? Your paper should be 2 pages. Adhere to APA Style throughout. Uses APA Style accurately and consistently to cite sources without errors. Meets length and formatting requirements of the assignment. The required number of relevant audience-appropriate sources have been expertly cited and integrated into the content to support ideas.