Communicate to Vaccinate (COMMVAC)

This project combines evidence mapping, conceptual and taxonomy development, priority setting, systematic reviews, and knowledge transfer. It will build and share concepts, terms, evidence, and resources to aid the development of communication strategies for effective vaccination programmes in LMICs. Specifically, COMMVAC is a mixed methods study with six sub-studies:

1. COMMVAC developed a systematic map of provider-parent communication interventions for childhood vaccinations by screening and extracting data from relevant literature. (In the context of childhood vaccination policy and programmes, communication strategies may encompass a variety of interventions, such as: public information campaigns, education strategies that are tailored to local cultures or accessible to those with low health literacy, efforts to address missed vaccinations with reminder systems, efforts to give parents the information to assess and manage side effects, and efforts to involve community members in planning and evaluating programmes.) The detailed map scopes features of communication interventions for vaccination (e.g., purpose, format, and delivery mode) linked to identified communication barriers.
2. This map informed the development of a taxonomy of interventions to improve communication about childhood vaccination [PDF]. The taxonomy has been informed by known barriers to improving communication for vaccination as well as the studies identified in sub-study one. COMMVAC will refine the taxonomy through discussions with communication and vaccination experts and potential users from a range of settings.
3. The taxonomy will be populated with trial citations to create an evidence map, which will also identify how evidence is linked to communication barriers regarding vaccination. A report will be presented on levels of available evidence, followed by deliberative forums held in person and online to provide feedback on taxonomy and identify high-priority topics for systematic reviews.
4. COMMVAC has produced these systematic reviews of the effects of high-priority interventions with high relevance to LMICs:
   • Face to Face Interventions for Informing or Educating Parents about Early Childhood Vaccination
   • Community-Directed Interventions for Informing and/or Educating about Early Childhood Vaccination
5. Evidence from the systematic reviews will be translated into accessible formats and messages for dissemination to LMICs. This will involve producing "evidence bulletins" that will include: key findings, an assessment of the confidence that can be placed in these findings, and a discussion of key implementation issues, such as applicability in LMICs, equity impacts, and monitoring needs. The bulletins will be disseminated through networks such as the Vaccines for Africa initiative and the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE).

Immunisation and Vaccines.

According to organisers, efforts to improve vaccination coverage in LMICs are central to meeting the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing child mortality. "While many of the vaccines needed to save children's lives already exist, improvements in coverage will depend in part on more effective communication between healthcare providers and the parents and caregivers of children."