By Kimberly Ramkhalawan
June 18, 2021
It’s coming to about six months since the Caribbean began its roll out of COVID 19 vaccines, and while there is still a segment of the population in the region waiting to take the jab, one regional Immunization Advisor is saying it should not be too long again before the entire region is inoculated against the virus.
Speaking at the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s (CARPHA) 65th Annual Health Research Conference, Dr. Karen Broome-Toppin, Immunization Advisor at the Caribbean Sub-Region and Eastern Caribbean, PAHO/WHO Office, says the region has taken on the challenge of getting its populations fully vaccinated similar to how it has achieved childhood immunizations.
The Caribbean is known for being world leaders in ensuring childhood vaccines are administered, Dr. Broome-Toppin says the Caribbean wanted to follow in the same tradition of ensuring its people are vaccinated, something moderator of the event, Chelsea Clinton of the Clinton Foundation marveled at the Caribbean achieving, even better than the United States.
But what does this kind of success do to assist in preparing the region for such a major vaccination drive among its adult populations?
Crediting the region’s mostly enthusiastic health leaders and organizations to getting the vaccines, Broome-Toppin says planning started when the region heard of the possibility of a vaccine against the virus. Along with its health care providers, Caribbean nations began planning its Immunization programs with the assistance and guidance of PAHO, by setting up logistics, getting volunteers and civil society to assist, so that ‘deployment and administration would work like clockwork’, similar to its vaccination programs utilized for childcare.
However, this time around, Broome-Toppin admits that there might be a level of hesitancy, as the target audience is different here, as focus is placed on the adults getting immunized. She adds that the difference with children is the one-on-one time afforded when parents visit clinics for pre- and post-natal care, while COVID does not provide such an opportunity. Instead, she says stressing the importance of getting people inoculated is founded in how the message is framed.
Since the start of the pandemic and the news of the vaccine, Dr.Broome-Toppin says PAHO/ WHO Caribbean have been actively listening to what is being said among its populations in the region, and finding out the root of their anxieties. Figuring this out required conducting surveys and focus groups, while being in tune to social media channels, such as WhatsApp Chats and Facebook postings.
She says so far, the Caribbean has been on the top in pushing its campaign for COVID vaccination drives throughout the region. She says roll out of the vaccines commenced with focus on the vulnerable in society, such as the elderly and the frontline workers.
In the initial stages, many persons expressed their reservations in taking the vaccine. However, Dr. Broome Toppin says this has often been subsided when persons see the influx of others stepping up to the taking the jab. And while hesitancy is common, she says all it requires is some time for persons to get better understanding of the benefits promoted, while it also helps to see persons within their community such as their pastor, sports personality and favourite influencers be open about taking the vaccines themselves.
Dr. Broome-Toppin credits a successful campaign which includes short videos debunking myths on the vaccines, while promoting its benefits and answering common FAQs on its effectiveness, possible side effects and adverse reactions.
This was something Clinton, added was vital to the vaccines’ effectiveness, as there was need for “trusting the messages rooted in science” while consistently delivered by reliable sources. Clinton added that while she understands the challenges in choreographing these messages despite the antivaxx community’s agenda, she says there is need for active communications that answers these questions clearly and is constantly on the ball to ensure the right messages are always heard.
Offering some advice on what has worked in their Vaccine communications plan, Dr. Rashad Massoud, Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer at Americares looked at how and what influences patients and people’s choices to receive the vaccine. He noted something they realized was a big factor in influencing just how much a person was willing to take the vaccine, was the degree in which family physicians and health workers were advising to take the shot.
This year’s CARPHA Conference runs from 16th to 19th June under the theme Pandemic, NCDs and Climate Change – The Caribbean’s Triple Threat.