Public health awareness event about World Immunization Week – Georgia (GMSA)

Name of the activity: Public health awareness event about World Immunization Week

Country/NMO: Georgia (GMSA)

Program: Communicable Diseases

Contact information: [email protected]

Type of the activity: Campaign

Focus area:

Work to increase rate of Vaccination

Problem statement:

Although vaccination is the most cost-effective healthcare intervention made in medical history, vaccine-preventible diseases still continue to persist worldwide. On the basis of World Health Organization statistics, on average 22.6 million infants are not getting vaccinated worldwide, mostly in developing countries. In our country -Georgia, WHO and UNICEF estimates of immunization coverage are next: from 2014 to 2016 DTP1 coverage estimate has declined from 99% to 97% respectively and in 2016 percentage of children who received first dose of measles containing vaccine was 93%. With our activity, we address to increase awareness about the impact vaccination has made on public health by providing trustworthy information in order to reach full coverage of immunization in our community and protect ourselves, loved ones and those, who can not get vaccinated from deadly diseases.

Target groups and beneficiaries:

Target group of our interaction are medical students. Our awareness event about vaccination and immunization is mainly oriented to provide medical students with evidence-based, scientifically proven information about vaccination/immunization ; to discuss challenges associated with this topic and once again, to underline the importance of student participation in raising awareness among our population and recommend ways, how they can take part in vaccine progression by engaging in community dialogues, providing trustworthy information and etc. Non-medical students are also welcome to attend.
We hope, that long run beneficiary from our activity will be society. In order to engage more people to get vaccinated, reach full coverage, sustain that level and prevent breakdown of herd immunity, our goal is to motivate students so that they can also spread education in society that vaccines are safe

Objectives and indicators of success:

1. The impact of vaccination on public health – 15 minute speech delivered in the form of presentation: Will emphasize on highlights of vaccines, address the role of herd immunity and how vaccination can prevent antibiotic resistance.
2. Results of “anti-vaccination” mindset on public health- 15 minute speech delivered in the form of presentation: history, roots, threats, arguments and counter-arguments, communicating/advocating vaccine safety.
3. Global immunization vision and strategy – 15 minute speech delivered in the form of presentation : Global vaccine action plan, actions to strengthen immunization. Will be oriented to provide medical students with evidence-based, scientifically proven information about vaccination/immunization and underline the importance of student participation in raising awareness among our population
4. Immunization coverage in Georgia – 15 minute speech delivered in the form of presentation: mainly covers statistics of Georgia. Will motivate students to engage in social and community educational services concerning vaccination in our country.

Methodology:

We will hold a session where several speakers will give speech in the form of presentations. Our objective to raise awareness will be achieved by transferring evidence-based knowledge to students who will attend our session.

Plans for evaluation:

We will make a pre. and post evaluation survey. During pre evaluation survey we will give questionaries to students about their current knowledge about vaccines, immunization coverage worldwide, whether they think vaccines are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and believe other “anti-vaccination myths”.
After the session is over, we will deliver post evaluation survey in the form of questionaries as well and ask students to express their opinion whether they gained useful information, how important they think the gained information is, are they willing to involve themselves in future educational projects and activities, community dialogues and services concerning vaccination progression and finally, and ask what would they change in our session and whether the session live up to their expectations.