"Build back the confidence": qualitative exploration of community experiences with polio vaccination in the Covid-19 context in Cameroon and Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: In 2020, as the Global Polio Eradication Initiative worked to address outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus Type 2, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, the Covid-19 pandemic suspended routine immunization campaigns worldwide. There were concerns about how Covid-19 - and the introduction of Covid-19 vaccines - might influence uptake of the oral polio vaccine (OPV). To inform communications strategies, we conducted a qualitative study to explore insights from community stakeholders into how Covid-19 influenced perceptions of OPV and vaccination campaigns. METHODS: We conducted 32 focus group discussions with caregivers of children under 5 and polio frontline workers as well as 22 in-depth interviews with healthcare practitioners and social influencers in Cameroon and Ethiopia. In each country, we purposively sampled stakeholders per discrete eligibility criteria from one urban (Yaoundé and Addis Ababa) and one peri-urban site (Bafia and Adama). RESULTS: We found that the Covid-19 pandemic and related precautionary measures introduced new challenges for OPV campaigns in Cameroon and Ethiopia, including reduced caregiver confidence in routine immunizations and an erosion of trust between caregivers and frontline workers. A salient concern among caregivers was that Covid-19 vaccines might be delivered in place of OPV. When asked how to maximize community support for future OPV campaigns, stakeholders suggested to rebuild caregiver trust for frontline workers; use a variety of information sources to ensure consistent messaging on vaccination reaches caregivers in a timely manner; increase remuneration, resources, and training for frontline workers; and leverage existing community influencers and groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the challenges to vaccination campaigns experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic, it was anticipated that the Polio Programme would continue to experience community support for OPV with appropriate messaging and community coordination. These efforts would "build back the confidence" among caregivers and other community stakeholders regarding community-based vaccination campaigns. Social and behavior change approaches that leverage clear, consistent messaging from multiple trusted platforms could address caregiver trust and dismantle mis/dis-information that creates confusion surrounding vaccines.

Exploring public perceptions of vaccine-derived poliovirus and a novel oral polio vaccine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The Global Polio Eradication Initiative introduced novel oral polio vaccine Type 2 (nOPV2) to address circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2). Although nOPV2 is a more genetically stable vaccine, it may not have the immediate trust of communities and health workers due to its novelty, potential side effects, and introduction under an Emergency Use Listing (EUL). We explored how nOPV2 introduction might be perceived by stakeholders and identified communications barriers related to nOPV2 hesitancy. METHODS: This work was conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and Nigeria between January and March 2020. We used a rapid qualitative approach to conduct focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with four stakeholder groups: caregivers of children under 5, polio frontline workers, healthcare practitioners, and social/health influencers. Data are presented according to awareness, attitudes/beliefs, and concerns about cVDPV2 and nOPV2. RESULTS: Stakeholders were largely unaware of cVDPV2. The causes of recent polio outbreaks were characterized as poor sanitation, under-immunization/in-migration, or poor vaccine management procedures. Caregivers were aware of and concerned by repeated vaccination campaigns. All stakeholder groups anticipated initial hesitancy, fear, and suspicion from caregivers due to nOPV2 introduction, with primary concerns linked to vaccine testing, safety, effectiveness, side effects, and support from authorities. Stakeholders thought the term "genetic modification" could be controversial but that introduction under an EUL would be acceptable given the emergency nature of cVDPV2 outbreaks. Stakeholders called for adequate and timely information to counter concerns. CONCLUSIONS: Despite initial concerns, stakeholders felt nOPV2 would ultimately be accepted by caregivers. However, public health officials have a small window for "getting things right" when introducing nOPV2. Strategic communication interventions addressing key concerns and targeted communications with stakeholder groups, especially frontline workers, could improve community acceptance of nOPV2.

Exploring the role of communications in quality improvement: A case study of the 1000 Lives Campaign in NHS Wales.

INTRODUCTION: Effective communication is critical to successful large-scale change. Yet, in our experience, communications strategies are not formally incorporated into quality improvement (QI) frameworks. The 1000 Lives Campaign ('Campaign') was a large-scale national QI collaborative that aimed to save an additional 1000 lives and prevent 50 000 episodes of harm in Welsh health care over a 2-year period. We use the Campaign as a case study to describe the development, application, and impact of a communications strategy embedded in a large-scale QI initiative. METHODS: A comprehensive communications strategy guided communications work during the Campaign. The main aims of the communications strategy were to engage the hearts and minds of frontline National Health Service (NHS) staff in the Campaign and promote their awareness and understanding of specific QI interventions and the wider patient safety agenda. We used qualitative and quantitative measures to monitor communications outputs and assess how the communications strategy influenced awareness and knowledge of frontline NHS staff. RESULTS: The communications strategy facilitated clear and consistent framing of Campaign messages and allowed dissemination of information related to the range of QI interventions. It reaffirmed the aim and value of the Campaign to frontline staff, thereby promoting sustained engagement with Campaign activities. The communications strategy also built the profile of the Campaign both internally with NHS organizations across Wales and externally with the media, and played a pivotal role in improving awareness and understanding of the patient safety agenda. Ultimately, outcomes from the communications strategy could not be separated from overall Campaign outcomes. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Systematic and structured communications can support and enhance QI initiatives. From our experience, we developed a 'communications bundle' consisting of six core components. We recommend that communications bundles be incorporated into existing QI methodology, though details should be tailored to the specific context and available resource.

El proceso de comunicación externa del Centro Nacional de Biopreparados en las redes sociales Facebook y Twitter / External communication at the National Bioproducts Center via the social networks Facebook and Twitter

La comunicación externa en las organizaciones es una prioridad a trabajar para el logro de los objetivos empresariales, donde una correcta gestión del proceso tiene que sustentarse en documentos normativos y estratégicos. Con el desarrollo de las nuevas tecnologías de la información y la comunicación, los espacios, las plataformas y los instrumentos que brinda Internet y la Web 2.0, las redes sociales han adquirido vital importancia para las empresas y el desarrollo de la comunicación en estas. El presente trabajo se propuso identificar la estrategia de inserción del Centro Nacional de Biopreparados en las redes sociales Facebook y Twitter, para lo cual se realizó un análisis de la cantidad de publicaciones y de seguidores, el sexo, el país de origen, el alcance y la interacción con las publicaciones. La inserción en Facebook y en Twitter de BioCen ha permitido alcanzar un mayor número de seguidores, un aumento de las visitas a nuestras publicaciones, una mayor interacción con instituciones afines, el crecimiento del intercambio de información y contenido entre las empresas homólogas y la ampliación de la visibilidad del Centro en el público externo, lo que genera, además, nuevos públicos estratégicos(AU)

External communication is a priority of organizations to achieve their corporate goals. Correct management of the process must be based on regulatory and strategic documents. With the advent of new information and communications technologies and the spaces, platforms and tools offered by the Internet and the Web 2.0, social networks have acquired vital importance for enterprises and the development of communication processes within them. The purpose of the study was to identify the strategy followed by the National Bioproducts Center to insert into the social networks Facebook and Twitter. To achieve such a goal, analysis was conducted of a number of publications and followers, their sex, country of origin, scope and interaction with the publications. Insertion of the Center into Facebook and Twitter has resulted in a larger number of followers, an increase in the number of visits to our publications, greater interaction with related institutions, broadened exchange of information and content between similar enterprises, and enhanced visibility among the external public, which in turn creates new strategic publics(AU)

Monitoring policy and actions on food environments: rationale and outline of the INFORMAS policy engagement and communication strategies.

The International Network for Food and Obesity/non-communicable diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS) proposes to collect performance indicators on food policies, actions and environments related to obesity and non-communicable diseases. This paper reviews existing communications strategies used for performance indicators and proposes the approach to be taken for INFORMAS. Twenty-seven scoring and rating tools were identified in various fields of public health including alcohol, tobacco, physical activity, infant feeding and food environments. These were compared based on the types of indicators used and how they were quantified, scoring methods, presentation and the communication and reporting strategies used. There are several implications of these analyses for INFORMAS: the ratings/benchmarking approach is very commonly used, presumably because it is an effective way to communicate progress and stimulate action, although this has not been formally evaluated; the tools used must be trustworthy, pragmatic and policy-relevant; multiple channels of communication will be needed; communications need to be tailored and targeted to decision-makers; data and methods should be freely accessible. The proposed communications strategy for INFORMAS has been built around these lessons to ensure that INFORMAS's outputs have the greatest chance of being used to improve food environments.