COVID-19 vaccine rollout risk communication strategies in Europe: a rapid response. (Special Issue: COVID-19 one year on.)
Journal of Risk Research
; 24(3/4):369-379, 2021.
Article
in English
| GIM | ID: covidwho-1747027
ABSTRACT
Risk communication is a vital part of any risk management strategy but has become even more important in the time of the COVID-19 global health crisis. In recent months, nations across Europe have begun to consider strategies for rolling out vaccines, which is widely seen as the way to overcome high death rates and widespread lockdowns over the course of 2020. In most European nations, vaccinations are not mandatory and thus public willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19 must be high to achieve lofty goals of reaching herd immunity from the virus. This paper evaluates current communication strategies on vaccine rollouts in several European nations the UK, France, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. Following an outline of the history of vaccination issues and unique public vaccine hesitancy profiles in each nation, an overview on current risk communication strategies around the vaccine rollout are offered, focusing on two key areas (1) communication of the vaccine rollout timeline and 'expectations management', and (2) communication of which groups are to be prioritised for any vaccine. From the findings of the paper, it is recommended that nations aiming to promote high vaccine uptake and avoid trust-destroying events promote informed consent amongst their citizens;are cautious in optimism and manage expectations appropriately;follow scientific advice to vaccine rollout strategies;disseminate and administer the vaccine using local trusted doctors, GPs and nurses;are open and honest about when people will get a vaccine and uncertainties associated with them.
communication; vaccines; coronavirus disease 2019; viral diseases; pandemics; public health; vaccination; immunization; health protection; disease prevention; disease control; immunization programmes; acceptability; attitudes; immunity; health promotion; campaigns; physicians; nurses; general practitioners; immune sensitization; man; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Europe; Uk; France; Germany; Sweden; Switzerland; Nordic Countries; Homo; Hominidae; primates; mammals; vertebrates; Chordata; animals; eukaryotes; Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirinae; Coronaviridae; Nidovirales; positive-sense ssRNA Viruses; ssRNA Viruses; RNA Viruses; viruses; British Isles; Western Europe; Commonwealth of Nations; European Union Countries; high income countries; OECD Countries; very high Human Development Index countries; Mediterranean Region; Scandinavia; Northern Europe; SARS-CoV-2; viral infections; immunization programs; Britain; United Kingdom; doctors
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
GIM
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Topics:
Vaccines
Language:
English
Journal:
Journal of Risk Research
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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