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Abstract
Background: Caregivers’ knowledge and perceptions regarding vaccination are key determinants of childhood vaccination status, and communication interventions are therefore important in providing information. A key challenge for policy makers in low income countries (LICs) is how best to integrate evidence-based communication strategies into vaccination programme delivery at scale. To address this challenge, the ‘Communicate to vaccinate 2’ (COMMVAC 2) project will develop guidance for policy makers on how to strengthen vaccine delivery and increase vaccination uptake in LICs through the integration of evidence-based communication strategies that are adapted for local conditions. Aim To describe how the ‘Communicate to vaccinate 2’ (COMMVAC 2) project will improve knowledge translation for childhood vaccination communication efforts in LICs.
Methods: COMMVAC 2 has two components: firstly, to extend earlier work on mapping the evidence on communication (see: www.commvac.com/publications.html) to include mass vaccination campaigns; and then to develop a taxonomy of these strategies and a framework for outcomes associated with vaccination communication interventions. Secondly, we will build an evidence base to guide the implementation of these strategies. This will involve a systematic review of factors affecting the successful implementation of communication interventions at scale and then integrating this evidence with that from systematic reviews of the effectiveness of vaccination communication interventions. The synthesized product will be the starting point for developing a range of best practice optionswith local applicability issues factored in, and which can be applied to routine and supplementary immunization activities.
Conclusions: This project will contribute to improving childhood vaccination coverage in LICs by building the evidence needed to implement effective vaccination communication interventions. The systematic reviews will provide a deeper understanding of the range of vaccination communication interventions being delivered in LICs and the factors associated with their implementation at scale. The project will also translate this evidence into guidance for policymakers.
Methods: COMMVAC 2 has two components: firstly, to extend earlier work on mapping the evidence on communication (see: www.commvac.com/publications.html) to include mass vaccination campaigns; and then to develop a taxonomy of these strategies and a framework for outcomes associated with vaccination communication interventions. Secondly, we will build an evidence base to guide the implementation of these strategies. This will involve a systematic review of factors affecting the successful implementation of communication interventions at scale and then integrating this evidence with that from systematic reviews of the effectiveness of vaccination communication interventions. The synthesized product will be the starting point for developing a range of best practice optionswith local applicability issues factored in, and which can be applied to routine and supplementary immunization activities.
Conclusions: This project will contribute to improving childhood vaccination coverage in LICs by building the evidence needed to implement effective vaccination communication interventions. The systematic reviews will provide a deeper understanding of the range of vaccination communication interventions being delivered in LICs and the factors associated with their implementation at scale. The project will also translate this evidence into guidance for policymakers.