Q1: What works in gaining trust in vaccine acceptance in vulnerable communities?
This first of several Questions were explored in a recent Stakeholder Health “Rapid Learning Session on COVID 19 Vaccine Education and Distribution”
Key Themes: community and provider buy-in, trusted community members, diverse image sets in outreach materials
See the Full Report HERE
Best-Known Ways
- Community and provider buy-in is critical in building trust with community members. Engage and build trust with the population we seek to vaccinate
The narrative is important, and gaining community trust is critical in light of historical context and lack of trust- Get information to the community through already-trusted avenues:
- Persistent and consistent messages from faith leaders and other trusted community leaders
- Identifying people in the community who are willing to be vaccinated and who are trusted by the community
- Photos of people getting vaccines
- Videos of physicians addressing facts
- Seminars where trusted providers speak on the vaccine and ensure there is an opportunity for questions and answers
- Town halls in underserved communities that are led by the communities
- Call on our leaders of color to share articles on why there is vaccine hesitancy
- Allow adequate space for community members to receive and process the information being shared about the vaccine
Recommendations
- Outreach to ensure a diverse image set in outreach materials
- Ensure community members can see themselves and others in the outreach materials
- Create safe places for community members to ask questions
- Community strategies are not “one size fits all.” Adapt the strategy for the specific population and listen to the specific needs of each community
Insights
- “Trust builds trust”
- Understand our vulnerable communities and how we define vulnerability
