WHO: Plan to generate “acceptance and demand for COVID-19 vaccines”

On January 31, 2021 , now that COVID-19 vaccines were available the WHO and UNICEF needed a plan for how they were going to generate “acceptance and demand for COVID-19 vaccines”.  Providing a “Demand Planning Tool” for countries to use “when preparing to introduce COVID-19 vaccines”. [1]

The spreadsheet included:

• Social data collection – Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE)
• Regular Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACMS) meetings
• Implementation of mass media, social media plan – Information, Education and Communication (ICE) and public service announcements (PSA), social media boosting
• Social media monitoring and misinformation management – mitigate rumours – critical to maintain public trust in COVID-19 vaccines
• Crisis communication for any possible Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) using Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Stakeholder and Community engaement programs – target community leaders to deliver Inderpersonal communication (IPC)
• Capacity building – with routine immunization implementation
• Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of communication activities