Vaccine Hesitancy and COVID-19: Considerations for Communication
This presentation presents the issues we confront in deciding how to communicate to the public that COVID-19 vaccine recommendations reflect the state of scientific knowledge.
Within the COVID-19 context, vaccine hesitancy is driven by several issues in the mindset of some members of the public that the government is over-reaching and that the scientists don't know enough to do their jobs. Much of this distrust comes from misinformation in the media.
The presentation also lists principles of risk communication:
- Be first
- Be right
- Promote action
Another two questions are posed:
- How should practitioners communicate to caregivers?
- How should we communicate for acceptance?

- Interpersonal Communication for Immunization (IPC-I)
- 5 Ways to Use Sensitivity When Writing About Vaccines
- Behavioural Considerations for Acceptance and Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines: WHO Technical Advisory Group on Behavioural Insights and Sciences for Health
- COVID-19 Vaccination Communication
- Guidance on Developing a National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines
- COVID-19: Can Behavior Insights Address Vaccine Hesitancy and Increase Take-up?
- Vaccine Hesitancy in Low- and Middle-income Countries: Potential Implications for the COVID-19 Response
- Key Guidelines in Developing a Pre-Emptive COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake Promotion Strategy
- Framework for Decision-making: Implementation of Mass Vaccination Campaigns in the Context of COVID-19
- Vaccine Confidence Project
January 6, 2021