Open AccessAddressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: Lessons from the role of community participation in previous vaccination programs
Author(s) -
Aanuoluwapo Adeyimika Afolabi,
Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
health promotion perspectives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2228-6497
DOI - 10.34172/hpp.2021.54
Subject(s) - vaccination , grassroots , herd immunity , covid-19 , pandemic , medicine , public relations , business , political science , disease , immunology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , politics , pathology , law
The acceptance of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine has been described as a gateway to attaining herd immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The critical role of community participation (CP) has been successfully demonstrated in previous vaccination programs globally. This perspective therefore aimed to describe how CP could be used to promote COVID-19 vaccination acceptance. To promote COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, it is required that a mapping of community assets, resources, civil-based organizations, and stakeholders is done to gain insight into the community culture and value in relation to COVID-19 vaccine. This will help to address the misconceptions while prompting COVID-19 vaccination sensitization activities that are relevant to each community. It is required that policy makers understand that the adoption of a comprehensive grassroots approach lends a voice to the community and helps to utilize community-initiated and community-driven ideas on promoting COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.