Practical tips
This section provides information that can be shared with those who are responsible for conducting community engagement activities. It is intended as guidance and should be adapted. The information will also need to be regularly updated according to how the situation evolves concerning vaccine availability and prioritization .
• Step 1: How to engage – simple tips for interacting with communities.
• Step 2: Ask the right questions – guidance for community discussions on COVID-19 vaccines.
• Step 3: What to say – knowledge to share with communities and frequently asked questions that can guide your discussion.
Step 1: How to engage
Community engagement is more successful when it is done within the community. Work with community and social mobilizers to meet with the community. Train community leaders and community and social mobilizers from civil society organizations, teachers, health workers and local groups to disseminate information and communicate with communities about the COVID-19 vaccines. Existing approaches and platforms being used for RCCE could also be leveraged for the vaccine introduction.
Ways to engage:
• Radio, SMS messages, posters, billboards, face-to-face visits and community meetings.
In some contexts, communities may be informed through media, service providers and other means, without being present at a community event. While in other contexts, frontline workers, health and community workers, civil society representatives and others may interact directly with communities.
When interacting directly with the community, explain who you are, which organization you work with, and what you do in the community. The steps include:
• Introduce yourself and show empathy by explaining that you understand that people are worried about COVID-19 and have questions about the vaccines being introduced. Give reassurance that you are there to help people understand the disease and the vaccines. Listen first to what they have to say about COVID-19 and the vaccines before sharing what you know. There will be a need to collect information from available social data to better understand the community and its concerns, so that activities and information can be adapted to meet their needs.
• Provide information to communities and families about the vaccine, its benefits, who is eligible at that time and where it is available. Encourage eligible populations to get vaccinated.
• Explain that the vaccine is not going to be available to everyone in the early stages and people should continue to follow proven protective behaviours.
Encourage awareness and action:
Information disseminated to communities should be simple and clear, and in local languages. Messages should be adapted to the context, and practical advice should be given that can be put into action. For example:
• Who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccines: health workers, social and community workers, older people and people with co-morbidities are eligible for getting vaccinated in the initial phase (may vary according to country’s decisions).
• Benefit: vaccines protect people from COVID-19.
• Safety: vaccines are safe and have gone through trials based on vaccine manufacturing protocols.
• Affordability: vaccines are likely to be available free of charge in lower middle-income countries.
• Behaviours to adopt: preventive, behavioural measures must still be followed.
• Information they can share with friends and family: where and when to access vaccination services; what to do in case someone has symptoms of coronavirus infection.
• Information that addresses myths and misconceptions in the community: it is safe to receive COVID-19 vaccines; COVID-19 is real and has infected many people and taken many lives; anyone can get infected with coronavirus; it does not discriminate based on race, age or geography.
Engage and listen:
• First, listen to understand their concerns and questions. Ask people what they already know, and what they want and need to know about the disease and COVID-19 vaccines.
• Involve them in designing and delivering communication and community engagement activities.
• Explain a few, clear and simple messages to the community (including families, caregivers and local leaders) in the language they prefer, and avoid using technical terms.
• Make sure everybody has understood this information accurately. Ask questions to determine levels of understanding.
• Get peers and community leaders to talk. People are more likely to pay attention to information from people they already know and trust, and who they feel are concerned about their well-being.
Step 2: Ask the right questions
Begin by learning more about people’s concerns and what questions they have. Make sure to answer questions. Guiding questions for starting a dialogue with people and communities include:
• What have you heard about the COVID-19 vaccines?
• What information would you like to know about COVID-19 vaccines?
• Do you have any concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccines? If so, what are your concerns?
• Do you trust health workers and vaccinators? If not, why?
Step 3: What to say
Make sure to update this part of the document based on new questions, misunderstandings and new information on the vaccines.
• COVID-19 vaccines, their benefit, what to do in case of mild side-effects, and what to do in case of severe side-effects.
• Eligible population for the vaccines: health workers, social workers, older people above age 65 and people with comorbidities, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and respiratory issues. The final decision on who is going to be eligible for vaccines will depend upon national governments. The category of social workers may be defined by individual countries.
• Importance of following positive behaviours to prevent coronavirus infection.