Resources

Piloting The CARD™ System for education of students about vaccination: Does it improve the vaccination experience at school?

Many students are fearful of vaccine injection-associated pain. In prior research, we created Knowledge Translation (KT) tools to address school vaccinations and associated pain, fear, and fainting. The objectives of this pilot implementation project were to determine the acceptability and impact of these KT tools on student knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of their vaccination experience.

Stakeholder feedback on The CARD™ System to improve the vaccination experience at school

School-based vaccination programs can be a source of distress for many students due to the pain from the needle injection and related fears. We created a multifaceted Knowledge Translation (KT) intervention to address vaccination and pain, fear, and fainting called The CARD™ System. The objectives were to document acceptability of key tools included in the multifaceted KT intervention and their effectiveness in improving knowledge and attitudes about vaccination pain and fear.

The CARD™ System for improving the vaccination experience at school: Results of a small-scale implementation project on program delivery

Researchers conducted a small-scale implementation study that integrated The CARD™ System (C-Comfort, A-Ask, R-Relax, D-Distract)—a multifaceted knowledge translation intervention designed to improve the vaccination experience at school—within the school vaccination program.

The CARD™ System for improving the vaccination experience at school: Results of a small-scale implementation project on student symptoms

Many students are afraid of receiving vaccinations at school. We implemented a novel, multifaceted knowledge translation intervention incorporating evidence-based vaccination coping strategies—The CARD™ System (C-Comfort, A-Ask, R-Relax, D-Distract)—and evaluated impact on student attitudes, knowledge, coping strategies used, and symptoms during school-based vaccinations.

The Salzburg Statement on Vaccination Acceptance

Immunization represents one of the greatest public health achievements. Vaccines save lives, make communities more productive and strengthen health systems. They are critical to attaining the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Vaccination also represents value for investment in public health. It is undisputedly one of the most cost-effective ways of avoiding disease, each year preventing 2–3 million deaths globally.

Concerned scientists, public health professionals, physicians, and child health advocates issue this Salzburg Statement along with the International Working Group on Vaccination and Public Health Solutions, proclaiming their unwavering commitment to universal childhood vaccination, and their pledge to support the development, testing, implementation, and evaluation of new, effective, and fact-based communication programs.

The goal is to explain vaccinations to parents or caregivers, answer their questions, address their concerns, and maintain public confidence in the personal, family and community protection that childhood vaccines provide. Every effort will also be made to communicate the dangers associated with these childhood illnesses to parents and communities since this information seems to have been lost in the present-day narrative. While vaccine misinformation has led to serious declines in community vaccination rates that require immediate attention, in other communities, particularly in low-income countries, issues such as lack of access. and unstable supply of vaccines need to be addressed.

Vaccination des adultes : De quels vaccins avez-vous besoin?

Fournit une liste de vaccins à considérer, pour les adultes.

Vaccine Safety Communication in the Digital Age

The second face-to-face meeting of the Vaccine Safety Net (VSN) was held on 4–5 June 2018, bringing together 89 participants, including 60 VSN representatives from 27 countries in all six World Health Organization regions. Members of the VSN were invited to discuss approaches, strategies and challenges in managing digital information and communications on vaccine safety in a credible way.

Network members and selected stakeholders discussed strategies to address Internet users’ information needs, reviewed ways to communicate the safety of vaccine through digital and social media and debated the pertinence of addressing controversies and vaccine hesitancy in the digital sphere. Participants were invited to think “outside the box” and find new ideas to sustain confidence in vaccines on the web.

The digital world makes it possible to reach millions of people with strategic information. It also offers the possibility of directing tailored messages that address the interests and sensitivity of specific audiences. The meeting documented important progress in the Network, in terms of both size and diversity and also the range of activities.

The VSN is breaking new ground by taking advantage of the diverse skills of its members. Digital campaigns, web analytics and social media listening are likely to enhance the impact of the Network. New initiatives have been launched to address vaccine hesitancy that have taught us valuable lessons. A long list of actionable items was retained. They range from broadening the VSN membership to selective communication strategies and include expansion, development of new tools and refinement of existing ones, establishment of new activities and training.

Vaccine-preventable diseases: Uncommon disease primer for the front-line provider

This Canadian Paediatric Society practice point provides quick information for front-line health care providers on vaccine-preventable diseases which, given the success of immunization programs in Canada, are now uncommon or rarely seen. These infections can still occur in children and youth from Canada and elsewhere, and their clinical identification has important public health implications. Knowledge of signs and symptoms, immunizing travellers and newcomers to Canada, awareness of outbreaks in-community and elsewhere, and early consultation with an expert in infectious diseases and public health authorities in suspected cases, are key preventive care measures.

Addressing vaccine hesitancy in immunization programs, clinics and practices

This practice point offers evidence-based guidance for provincial/territorial immunization programs, clinics and office practices on how to address hesitancy and improve vaccine uptake rates. Steps to take include the following: 1) Detecting under-immunized subgroups (which requires record-keeping), diagnosis and targeted interventions; 2) Educating all health care workers involved with immunization on best practices; 3) Employing evidence-based strategies to increase uptake, including reminders, convenient clinic hours and locations, and tailored communication; 4) Educating children, youth and adults on the importance of immunization for health; and  5) Working collaboratively across provincial/territorial jurisdictions and with the federal government, nongovernmental organizations, community leaders and health services.

Age or chronic conditions make the flu even more dangerous