Putting People at the Center of USAID Immunization Programs
Three local leaders building community trust in vaccines
Vaccines are powerful tools for saving lives, stopping the spread of infectious diseases, and helping communities thrive. When individuals are fully protected from the threat of vaccine-preventable diseases, they can stay in school, care for their families, and contribute to the economic growth of their countries. Yet, to ultimately support long lives well-lived, we must go from vaccines to vaccination.
USAID invests in the science and technology of new vaccines, but we also recognize the importance of putting people at the center of our immunization work and helping everyone receive lifesaving vaccines no matter where they live.
We work with local health workers to deliver routine immunizations to zero-dose, under-immunized, and hard-to-reach populations, and with local leaders and communities to encourage uptake of new and under-utilized vaccines. As routine immunization services reach more families than any other health service globally, strengthening immunization programming can help make overall primary health care systems stronger and more resilient.
Through the MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity project, USAID is working with local community leaders in our partner countries to build trust in and encourage the uptake of essential childhood vaccines, routine immunization across the life course, and COVID-19 vaccines. These leaders work in communities to help pave the way for a healthier future — learn more by reading their stories below.
Adeline d’Or Omeokoko a Sama Ato, a women’s organization leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo
When COVID-19 was first detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Adeline d’Or Omeokoko a Sama Ato, a local activist for women’s rights, immediately jumped to action, encouraging women in her community to protect themselves from the virus by wearing masks and washing their hands. But misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine, particularly from faith leaders, gave her pause when vaccines against COVID-19 became readily available.
“I had a lot of concerns about the side effects of the vaccine and the consequences for pregnant women,” she said. “I was very afraid. I decided not to get vaccinated.”
Fortunately, Adeline decided to attend a USAID-supported workshop led by the DRC Government’s Expanded Program on Immunization to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and ask questions about how it would affect her health. With the information and answers she received, Adeline decided to get vaccinated against COVID-19; she also started encouraging others in her family and community to get vaccinated as well.
As the secretary general of a civil society organization, Cadre Permanent de Concertation de la Femme Congolaise (CAFCO), which is focused on strengthening fundamental freedoms for women in the DRC, Adeline also worked to share her newfound knowledge that the COVID-19 vaccine would pose no risk to the fertility or reproductive health of women. By the end of 2021, CAFCO successfully hosted four outreach sessions in Kinshasa, the Haut Katanga province, and the Kongo Central province. More than 137 CAFCO members have received the COVID-19 vaccine as a result, and the organization is now using these member testimonies to encourage women across the DRC to get vaccinated.
Domingos Salvador, a community health worker in Mozambique
Domingos Salvador wakes up every day with a mission — to get his community vaccinated against life-threatening, preventable diseases. As a community health worker in Herema, Mozambique, Domingos serves a critical role as the link between his community and the nearby Curruane Health Center.
USAID supported Domingos and his fellow community health workers to receive specialized training on the lifesaving importance of childhood immunization schedules completed on time, with all required doses. Additional USAID-supported training also emphasized the importance of engaging community stakeholders, consensus building with families and caregivers, and regular monitoring meetings at the community level to track immunization services and outreach activities.
Since these training sessions, Domingos stepped up his efforts to deliver health education sessions in public spaces, like the local market, that encourage parents to vaccinate their children against diseases including measles and polio. More and more parents and caregivers are starting to show up with their children during these mobile vaccination brigades. They do not have to lose time, money, (and patience with their children!) traveling to the health center, and Domingos is able to deliver essential immunizations on schedule.
Just four months into 2022, Domingos has helped vaccinate more than 120 children in his community.
Domingos knows that regular communications are key to demonstrating the value of vaccines so he also engages community and religious leaders and local health committees to share messages on the importance of routine immunization for the people of Herema. Collaborations have included encouraging mothers to bring their families to sites visited by mobile vaccination brigades and referring families with missed routine immunizations to health facilities. Domingos is also partnering with the health committees to use vaccination as a way to encourage community members to use other primary health care services, like nutrition counseling or antenatal care visits.
Meera, a hijra community leader in India
In Chhattisgarh, India, Meera–a transgender woman and leader in the hijra (third gender) community–was apprehensive at first about receiving a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Like many, Meera had seen rumors of mortality and illness on social media, and was concerned that she and others in the transgender community were especially vulnerable to complications.
“We had several reservations in our minds since most of our community have various treatments for different medical issues …. I feared we were in grave danger of developing health problems,” she said.
Because of these concerns and a lack of gender-inclusive outreach, Meera took it upon herself to attend a USAID-supported vaccine counseling session in her community focused on explaining the COVID-19 vaccine development process and dispelling myths about their safety. During the session, she was able to get answers to her most pressing questions, and left reassured that the vaccine would not interfere with her community’s existing medical conditions or treatments. Convinced by what she learned at the session, Meera decided to get the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Recognizing the lifesaving importance of sharing her newfound knowledge, Meera also participated in a COVID-19 counseling and vaccination camp for third gender people in her community where she led by example.
She shared her personal experience receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to help demonstrate the importance of getting vaccinated and help overcome fears.
As a result, six of her peers decided to get vaccinated during the camp, and Meera looks forward to continuing to help educate and protect her community.
About the Authors
The following MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity project staff contributed to this blog: Neide Guesela, Christophe Okoko Alimasi, Alain Blaise Tatsinkou, Anumegha Bhatnagar, and Nicole Davis.
