Strategies For Improving Covid-19 Vaccination Uptake
Chibuzor Chika
Department of Human Kinetics Health and Safety Studies, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Port Harcourt
Alete Favour Ndidi
Department of Human Kinetics Health and Safety Studies, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Port Harcourt
Keywords: Strategies, COVID-19, vaccination uptake
Abstract
With the rapid development of vaccines against COVID-19 is an extraordinary achievement, successfully vaccinating the global population presents many challenges, from production to distribution, deployment, and importantly, acceptance. Trust in the vaccines is vital, and is critically dependant on the ability of governments to communicate the benefits of vaccination, and to deliver the vaccines safely and effectively. Public engagement and effective communication through clear, transparent messaging will play a central role in building confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines. This rapid expert consultation describes a variety of public engagement and communication strategies that can be implemented at the national, state, and local levels to change patterns of interaction with the public, address uncertainty about the vaccines, and build trust. In general, given the prevalence of local concerns and information needs, it is important to support local communities with the resources needed to engage people and reinforce information coming from the federal and state levels. Strong community engagement aimed at identifying and understanding local concerns will help determine what messaging, delivered by whom, will be most effective. Moreover, it will be essential to provide people who are uncertain, reluctant, distrusting, or otherwise unmotivated with respect to the COVID-19 vaccines with the resources, information, and support they need to make the vaccination decision that is right for them. This paper highlights overall strategies for engaging the public and building trust, as well as strategies to ensure demand for and promote acceptance of the vaccines.