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WHO recommends measures for better Covid vaccination

 Rohit Shishodia
The World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on Behavioral Insights and Sciences for Health has recommended three measures to countries for smooth Covid vaccination.  

The group has said that first governments must make it easy, quick and affordable to get vaccinated, especially for the large proportion of people who are not deliberately avoiding vaccination.

“What might seem to be reluctance, resistance or even opposition, might actually be a response to the burdens or inconvenience of getting vaccinated,” the group points out.

The group emphasized that immunization rollout plans need to consider factors such as the convenience of location and time, associated costs, and the quality of the experience of being vaccinated.

“Second, we need to harness social influences, including from trusted community figures. By making vaccine uptake “visible” to others, through clinics in prominent public places or by enabling ways for people to signal that they have received the vaccine – on social media, in news media or in person – can contribute to making the social norm more salient,” advised the group.

The group has added that showing that health workers are being vaccinated can lead to greater acceptance and uptake by the general population. Amplifying endorsements from trusted community members can also help.

“Third, we need to increase individual motivation through open and transparent dialogue and communication about the uncertainty and risks, but also the safety and benefits of vaccination,” it added.

The group has pointed out that some people may be hesitant toward vaccination due to beliefs that they have a low risk of infection, others may have concerns about the safety of vaccines, while others may be hesitant because of religious values or lack of trust in the health system.

The group has said that it will be important to manage expectations and ensure that those who have been vaccinated do not stop adhering to protective behaviours and expose themselves and others to risk.

“It is important to build trust in Covid-19 vaccines before people form an opinion against them.  This should involve using trusted messengers to help navigate the Covid-19 information landscape and building confidence in the vaccine development process through transparency and managing expectations,” said the group.

The group has advised that communicating consistently, transparently, empathetically and proactively about uncertainty, risks and vaccine availability will contribute to building trust.


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