ABSTRACT
Israel has been certified as polio-free by the World Health Organization and its routine immunisation schedule consists of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) only. At the end of May 2013, the Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed the reintroduction of wild-type poliovirus 1 into the country. Documented ongoing human-to-human transmission necessitated a thorough risk assessment followed by a supplemental immunisation campaign using oral polio vaccine (OPV). The unusual situation in which ongoing poliovirus transmission was picked up through an early warning system of sewage monitoring without active polio cases, brought about significant challenges in risk communication. This paper reviews the challenges faced by the MOH and the communication strategy devised, in order to facilitate and optimise the various components of the public health response, particularly vaccination. Lessons learned from our recent experience may inform risk communication approaches in other countries that may face a similar situation as global polio eradication moves towards the 'End game'.
Subject(s)
Communication , Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Environmental Monitoring , Poliomyelitis/virology , Poliovirus/isolation & purification , Sewage/virology , Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology , Humans , Israel/epidemiology , Mass Screening , Poliomyelitis/diagnosis , Poliomyelitis/transmission , Poliovirus/classification , Poliovirus/immunology , Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral/immunology , Population Surveillance , Risk AssessmentABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Smoking rates among teenagers have increased in many countries including Israel. Youth smoking prevention programs have developed considerably in recent years and the present study examines results of mass media anti-smoking campaign in Israel. METHODS: Two telephone interviews were conducted one moth and 9 months after exposure to TV advertisements. The two surveys consisted of random samples of Israeli adolescents aged 12-18 years. RESULTS: After one month, 77% of the survey participants remembered the slogan of the TV ads, and 30% used it. After 9 months, 32% remembered it and 6% used it. 28% said they were affected by the TV ads. After 9 months, 25% increased their awareness about anti-smoking behaviors, 2% claimed to have stopped smoking, and 1% claimed to have decreased smoking). Significant changes in anti-smoking awareness were found in survey participants who were exposed to TV ads and also participated in a school program.
