Members of the Movement for Immunization Agenda 2030 joined the UNICEF-led COVID-19 Vaccine Demand Global Event on 22-23 June 2022. The focus was on enhancing vaccine confidence and uptake through risk communication and community engagement among high-risk and vulnerable groups.
Partners: U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Collective Service for Risk Communication and Community Engagement, Gavi, the Geneva Learning Foundation, USAID, IFRC, and WHO
Learn more about the Movement for Immunization Agenda 2030
https://www.learning.foundation/immunization-agenda-2030
Two Members of the Movement presented during the session on “Service quality interventions that meet people on their terms”. This session was facilitated by Sheetal Sharma, Senior Immunization Advisor, CORE Group.
Côte d’Ivoire Hackathon to accelerate COVID-19 vaccination: Presentation at the UNICEF COVID-19 Vaccine Demand Global Event
SITUATION OVERVIEW
* National team planned COVID-19 vaccination campaign for December 2021
* Health workforce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a potentially significant hurdle to role as “trusted adviser” to communities
* Health workforce (HRH) capabilities are obviously key to success, but time is not available for traditional capability development processes.
* Lessons learned need to be shared rapidly, especially how to adapt national guidance to local contexts, but existing mechanisms are primarily vertical (top-down)
PROBLEM STATEMENT
How to rapidly strengthen INHP-EPI and partner staff HRH capabilities based on “what works”, ahead of a national COVID-19 vaccination campaign (10-20 December 2021) to vaccinate 6 million people in Côte d’Ivoire.
A health worker shared this testimonial: “I was so afraid of the vaccine that I refused to get vaccinated even though I was encouraging communities to do so. After three months of observing my colleagues who had already been vaccinated, I took my courage in both hands and vaccinated myself. I now feel comfortable again to continue community outreach.”
THE SOLUTION
IN 7 DAYS: TGLF’s fully-digital Hackathon package was deployed by a country-based team of alumni volunteers with EPI and INPH support to connect more than 500 country and health workers who developed 165 context-specific action plans to accelerate COVID-19 vaccination.
Capability development embedded into activities focused on urgent priorities, rather than requiring stakeholders to set aside priorities in order to learn.
MEASUREMENT
* Outcomes measured by national EPI through actual vaccination uptake during national campaign matched to implementation of Hackathon action plans.
* Hackathon participants self-reported implementation; shared photos of actual implementation of their action plans.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INTERVENTION
Country and health worker ownership: Led by the TGLF alumni network in Côte d’Ivoire embedded in national EPI team, with participation from all system levels and peers from 20 other countries.
Speed: In 10 days, TGLF developed the hackathon with the Côte d’Ivoire Alumni team. Over nine days, without stopping their daily work, participants developed 165 peer-reviewed context-specific action plans, primarily to overcome COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
Scale: In five days, 501 applicants were recruited.
Diversity: Ivorian participants represented 96 health districts (85% of total) in Côte d’Ivoire: 51% district, 21% facility, 15% national, 11% regional.
Impact: If implemented, action plans estimated to vaccinate 3.5M people with a funding gap requiring an additional 0.26 USD per vaccination. 71% of participants implemented their action plans during the national vaccination campaign. 82% of respondents reported having found a solution to better conduct the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
Sustainability: 78% of respondents felt “capable” of using the methodology for their own needs, and 82% want to organize their own hackathon with their colleagues.
KEY TAKE-AWAYS
1. Hackathon participants found local solutions that they were able to integrate and use in the campaign to anticipate, prevent, mitigate, and respond to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy
2. Health workers’ own confidence in COVID-19 vaccine and their vaccination status is consistently reported as one of the most important factors in successfully engaging communities.
3. Country-wide digital peer learning networks connecting different system levels foster motivation to share what is learned, accelerate problem-solving, and adapt national guidelines to local contexts.
