Charlie Firth

I oversee OVG's strategic communcation and engagement activities globally to support vaccine research and policy. I lead the internationally recognised Vaccine Knowledge website, a trusted and accessible source of information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent, with millions of annual visitors. The project plays a critical role in promoting understanding and informed decision-making around immunisation.

My work combines academic research with practical communication. I conduct both quantitative and qualitative research to explore public attitudes towards vaccination and to identify effective, evidence-based strategies for public health messaging. This includes shaping communication approaches for national and global vaccination programmes. I am an investigator on social science projects based in Nepal, Uganda, Ghana, Malaysisa, and the UK. 

Beyond research, I collaborate widely with stakeholders including the general public, educators, healthcare professionals, and international partners to foster greater understanding of vaccine science and public health. I work closely with clinical investigators and social scientists to ensure our communication and engagement activities are rooted in the latest scientific and social research.

Alongside my professional role, I am also pursuing a DPhil within the Oxford Vaccine Group. My research, supervised by Professor Samantha Vanderslott, Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, Dr Sam Martin, and Dr Kat Pollock, focuses on public perceptions and the acceptability of changes to childhood immunisation schedules in various settings.