The COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Handbook

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This handbook is for journalists, doctors, nurses, policy makers, researchers, teachers, students, parents, and others.

It contains information about:

  • COVID-19 vaccines
  • How to talk to others about them
  • How to challenge misinformation about the vaccines

Source: The COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Handbook

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    5 Ways to Use Sensitivity When Writing About Vaccines

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    This blog explains that health professionals need to approach their patients who are opposed to vaccination with understanding and patience.

    They should anticipate vaccine-related questions and suggest five ways to deal with the patients:

    1. Knowledge Management: An Effective Tool to Stem Vaccine Hesitancy
    2. Contain Vaccination Misinformation
    3. Find a new way to tell the “this is why vaccines are important” story
    4. Use Your Platform to Educate About the Benefit of Vaccines
    5. Identify Pro-Immunization Spokespeople

    Source: 5 Ways to Use Sensitivity When Writing About Vaccines

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      COVID-19 Vaccination Communication

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      This report, which was developed in consultation with leading experts in social and behavioral sciences and public health, outlines evidence-informed communication strategies in support of national COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts across federal agencies and their state and local partners.

      Source: COVID-19 Vaccination Communication

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        Key Guidelines in Developing a Pre-Emptive COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake Promotion Strategy

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        This paper makes the case for immediate planning for a COVID-19 vaccination uptake strategy in advance of vaccine availability for two reasons: first, the need to build a consensus about the order in which groups of the population will get access to the vaccine; second, to reduce any fear and concerns that exist in relation to vaccination and to create demand for vaccines. A key part of this strategy is to counter the anti-vaccination movement that is already promoting hesitancy and resistance.

        This paper aims to set out in short form critical guidelines that governments and regional bodies should take to enhance the impact of a COVID-19 vaccination strategy. We base our recommendations on a review of existing best practice guidance. This paper aims to assist those responsible for promoting COVID-19 vaccine uptake to digest the mass of guidance that exists and formulate an effective locally relevant strategy.

        A summary of key guidelines is presented based on best practice guidance.

        Source: Key Guidelines in Developing a Pre-Emptive COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake Promotion Strategy

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          The Best Evidence for How to Overcome COVID Vaccine Fears

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          Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is becoming available, somewhere between 60 and 90 percent of adults and children must be vaccinated or have antibodies resulting from infection in order to arrive at the safe harbor known as herd immunity, where the whole community is protected.

          However, among the US population, there are large segments that remain reluctant or opposed to receiving the vaccines. In the Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 42 percent of Republicans said they definitely or probably would not. The same was true for 35 percent of Black adults, who, as a group, have borne a disproportionate share of sickness and death from COVID-19. Also deeply hesitant were 35 percent of rural residents, 36 percent of adults ages 30 to 49, and—especially worrisome given their public-facing roles—33 percent of essential workers and 29 percent of those who work in a health care delivery setting.

          For the reluctant and distrustful, it will take targeted actions and communication strategies that speak to the specific concerns of each group to move them toward accepting the new vaccines. This article describes several approaches to reach those audiences.

          Source: The Best Evidence for How to Overcome COVID Vaccine Fears

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            COVID-19: Can Behavior Insights Address Vaccine Hesitancy and Increase Take-up?

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            In efforts to reduce infections by COVID-19, effective vaccines will only contribute to herd immunity if people accept them and follow the correct vaccination course. The take-up rate is a crucial variable to consider in the quest to achieve herd immunity.

            For instance, with a 90% effective vaccine, we need a 77.7% take-up rate if the herd immunity threshold is 70%. Currently, the picture is mixed: in a global survey of potential acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine, positive responses ranged from 55% in Russia to 87% in China. In September 2020, a Pew survey suggested that 49% of American adults would refuse a COVID-19 vaccine.

            The behavioral science literature suggests the importance of understanding the underlying drivers of vaccine decision-making. Countries should design their strategies for vaccine take-up to target these factors, including the perceived risk of disease and side effects, social norms, costs in terms of time and effort, and trust in the health system and government. Behavior science offers options that go beyond traditional behavior change campaigns.

            Source: COVID-19: Can Behavior Insights Address Vaccine Hesitancy and Increase Take-up?

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              Hygiene and Behavior Change Coalition COVID-19 TV Spots

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              The Hygiene and Behavior Change Coalition (HBCC) created these spots and produced them in a variety of languages. The videos are available in Arabic, Indonesian, Hindi and Swahili.

              The HBCC is funded by the Unilever Transform project and the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office.

              Source: Hygiene and Behavior Change Coalition COVID-19 TV Spots

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                Four Things You Can Do to Support Your Teen’s Mental Health

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                This is guidance for parents to help them deal with their teenagers’ mental health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

                The four things parents can do are:

                1. Encourage them to share their feelings
                2. Take the time to support them
                3. Work through conflict together
                4. Care for yourself

                Source: Four Things You Can Do to Support Your Teen’s Mental Health

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                  Tips for Professional Reporting on COVID-19 Vaccines

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                  Journalists play a vital role in informing the public on science, specifically vaccine, developments, in an unprecedented period of scientific publishing.

                  The situation is constantly evolving but there are some general guidelines that should be followed whenever possible:

                  • Don’t just report the topline
                  • Don’t trust data automatically
                  • Use trusted and reliable sources
                  • State the source
                  • Define the terms
                  • Use clear language
                  • Explain the stage
                  • Report the numbers
                  • Disclose the side effects
                  • Use appropriate imagery
                  • Don’t forget demographics
                  • Remind everyone of the benefits of vaccines

                  Tackle vaccine hesitancy by reporting facts and figures on vaccine efficacy in ending epidemics throughout history.

                  Source: Tips for Professional Reporting on COVID-19 Vaccines

                    Views 562

                    Vaccine Confidence Project

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                    This site serves as a collection of resources from around the world that can be used to gain further information about vaccines and their recommended usage.

                    The purpose of the Vaccine Confidence Project is to monitor public confidence in immunization programs by building an information surveillance system for early detection of public concerns around vaccines; by applying a diagnostic tool to data collected to determine the risk level of public concerns in terms of their potential to disrupt vaccine programmes; and, finally, to provide analysis and guidance for early response and engagement with the public to ensure sustained confidence in vaccines and immunisation.

                    This initiative also defines a Vaccine Confidence Index™ (VCI) as a tool for mapping confidence globally.

                    Source: Vaccine Confidence Project

                      Views 787