Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy With Community Distribution of Conversation Cards.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Communication
• Vaccine Hesitancy Research

Background:

• COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy remains a significant public health challenge.
• Effective communication strategies are crucial to address vaccine concerns and promote uptake.
• Community-based interventions can play a vital role in disseminating accurate vaccine information.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of vaccine cardholders and conversation cards in promoting dialogue about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
• To encourage newly vaccinated individuals to discuss vaccine benefits with unvaccinated peers.

Main Methods:

• Distribution of 6000 vaccine cardholders and conversation cards to newly vaccinated adults at vaccination sites.
• Onsite exit interviews with 257 participants to gauge initial reception and intended use.
• Follow-up surveys two weeks post-vaccination to assess actual usage of the provided materials.

Main Results:

• Vaccine cardholders and conversation cards were well-received, with most recipients expressing intent to use them.
• 51% of respondents reported using a card to initiate conversations about COVID-19 vaccines.
• 41% of participants shared a card with an unvaccinated friend or family member.

Conclusions:

• Vaccine cardholders and conversation cards are practical tools for fostering community discussions on vaccine hesitancy.
• This intervention demonstrates a feasible method to leverage newly vaccinated individuals as health advocates.
• Such simple, low-cost tools can effectively bridge communication gaps regarding vaccine confidence.