Some Recommendations to decrease vaccine hesitancy
Information, Education, and Communication (IEC):
The information-deficit model of health communication considers that people are more likely undereducated about COVID-19 vaccines and that providing additional factual information will fill the knowledge gap and lead people toward vaccinating themselves
Approaches
Government websites, help centers, and National COVID-19 vaccine helplines should be prepared to educate people about the vaccine. Public leaders and health care professionals should acknowledge the different concerns, values, and beliefs of people.
One-way science communication that expects the public to passively accept vaccination should be avoided (Smith, 2017). The previous experiences under the immunization program can help to identify the pockets of vaccine refusal in different regions.
Community Interventions:
Community health workers are more likely to be in direct contact with people during vaccination. They should be trained in providing brief counseling to a different group of individuals (e.g., vaccine-hesitant). The involvement of schools, colleges, and other community institutes can be a feasible approach in many countries.
Innovative programs:
To improve community acceptance, innovative programs should be developed at different levels of health care systems. E.g., COVID-19 vaccine ambassador program in which the people who get vaccinated can educate others about the importance of vaccination through social media
Capacity building for COVID-19 vaccinations:
A multidisciplinary team inclusive of health-care workers (HCWs), public health experts, local political leaders, and mental health professionals should be developed to increase COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.
Monitoring the social media:
Promoting the idea that vaccination is “normal” and monitoring social media for misinformation is key.
International collaboration:
The infodemic and anti-vaccine movement will not restrict to any specific country (Eysenbach, 2020). Therefore, government and international agencies should be well prepared to respond appropriately, adequately, and quickly to the COVID-19 vaccine concerns.
Mental health:
COVID-19 vaccination is an opportunity for mental health professionals to screen people for common mental illness through public health systems and increasing investment in mental health for a future pandemic (Adiukwu et al., 2020).
Persons with severe mental illness should be prioritized so that they can access mental health services regularly.
To conclude, the COVID-19 anti-vaccine movement can affect community health, and possibly prolong the COVID-19 pandemic, and will inadvertently increase the burden of mental health issues.
A systematic approach, appropriate innovative interventions, and global-public health initiatives are needed to prevent this.
