Healthcare providers are the most trusted source of information about vaccines for the general public (see Special Eurobarometer; Wellcome Global Monitor). Therefore, healthcare providers play a major role in vaccine uptake.
However, research performed under the umbrella of the EU Joint Action on Vaccination has stressed that a significant percentage of healthcare providers and health students do not feel confident to answer questions about vaccines and/or lack specific knowledge about vaccines.
The vast majority of healthcare providers indicated that they are willing to follow extra courses on vaccinology and would benefit from extra support (like FAQ modules, trustworthy websites, support from the government, trainings etc.).
Therefore, WP5 of the IMMUNION project is dedicated to providing support to (future) healthcare providers in terms of vaccine communication training, in order to facilitate the communication between parents/patients and healthcare providers, with the ultimate goal to improve vaccine confidence.
As part of the activities to improve confidence to communicate about vaccines, WP5 has organised an online Train the Trainer session on vaccine confidence and communication on the 21st of June 2022.
The target audience for this training was trainers of healthcare providers/health students: (1) teachers who are currently training any type of (future) healthcare provider that is or will be involved in the vaccination process (nurses, midwives, pharmacists, GPs, paediatricians…), on the topic of vaccines/vaccination; (2) from all EU member states.
A total of 66 trainers and health professionals attended the training. The training was very well received and preliminary results showed that 100% of the participants indicated that they felt more confident to answer questions about vaccines after the training.
Recordings and resources from the training will be available soon on the Coalition for Vaccination website.
Programme
Chairs : Sara Valckx & Aurélie De Waele
13:00 - 13:10
Introduction
Alison Maassen (EuroHealthNet)
EuroHealthNet
13:10 - 13:30
Role of the HCP in the vaccination process and the importance of communication
Brett Craig (WHO Europe)
13:30 - 13:50
Vaccine hesitancy in Europe
Greet Hendrickx (University of Antwerp)
13:50 - 14:10
How to improve health literacy
Pierre Van Damme (University of Antwerp), incl. video materials from John Kinsman (ECDC) & Brett Craig (WHO Euro)
14:10 - 14:25
Break
14:25 - 15:40
Communication about vaccines
- How to communicate about vaccines
- Communication exercices
Philipp Schmid (University of Erfurt, JITSUVAX)
15:40 - 16:00
Tips and tricks for teaching
Max Willie (EPSA training coordinator)
16:00 - 16:15
Q&A
Closing of the session
If you didn't have a chance to attend the session, you can watch the recording here.