Improving Vaccine Accessibility for Communities

Going Beyond Facts: Driving Vaccine Uptake in Africa Through Emotion, Norms, and Access This scoping review is valuable because it brings together a lot of my thinking on vaccine adoption by illustrating it through programmatic experience. The #BehavioralInsightsLab's experiments in both Bangladesh and Nigeria have demonstrated that insights based messaging is a powerful way of driving vaccine adoption. I've posted on our experience a number of times . Drawing on 40 studies from across the African continent, the review identifies not only the barriers to vaccine acceptance—such as misinformation, perceived side effects, and poor access—but also powerful facilitators. Among the most striking findings is the critical role of emotional motivation, social norms, and value-driven messaging in shaping people’s intentions to vaccinate. The Power of Purpose-Driven Messaging Many public health campaigns rely heavily on delivering factual information—what the vaccine is, how it works, and where to get it. While necessary, this approach often falls short in environments where trust is fragile, misinformation is rampant, and emotional concerns outweigh logical reasoning. Naidoo et al. highlight that messages emphasizing the emotional and social benefits of vaccination—such as the desire to protect loved ones, contribute to community well-being, and return to normal life—are more effective than purely data-driven approaches. Normalizing Positive Behavior Through Social Norms The review also points to the influence of social norms in driving behavior. When people perceive that their friends, family, or community members support or are already engaging in vaccination, they are more likely to do the same. Messaging that highlights collective behavior—e.g., “Most people in your community have been vaccinated”—can build a sense of belonging and reduce hesitancy. This is particularly important in settings where distrust in government or institutions is high. By anchoring messages in peer behaviors and trusted relationships, health campaigns can sidestep institutional skepticism and instead activate personal and social accountability. We have found local influencers such as pharmacists to be a powerful voice for change. A Call for Human-Centered Communication To drive vaccine uptake in Africa and beyond, the takeaway from this scoping review is clear: public health messaging must evolve. It should move beyond sterile facts and adopt human-centered communication strategies—grounded in hope, community, and shared purpose. In designing future campaigns, governments and health partners should frame messages not just to inform, but to inspire, relate, and resonate. That shift—from cold data to warm connection—may be the missing link in turning intention into action. #PublicHealth #HealthCommunication #VaccineUptake #BehavioralScience #AfricaHealth #COVID19 #SocialNorms #HealthPromotion #VaccineConfidence #LinkedInHealth #BehaviorChange #GlobalHealth

We are in the midst of a tragic, & preventable, resurgence in measles & have seen other vaccine-preventable illnesses like whooping cough & even polio resurface in the U.S. The reasons for this are many & I deeply appreciate that Mpls St. Paul magazine’s “Top Doctors 2025" issue this month focused on the medical marvel that are vaccines (https://lnkd.in/gxZfJ28H). Improving access so that communities not only receive vaccines—but also understand their critical role in protecting our most medically vulnerable, including children and elders—has been a central part of my public health leadership journey. So it is particularly meaningful to be included in the issue & share lessons I've learned along the way working with amazing colleagues at the Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Human Services & community partners like Kelly Robinson,RN, Teto Wilson, Zeke McKinney, MD, MHI, MPH, Sheyanga Beecher MSN MPH, Jesse Bethke Gomez & many, many more🙌🏾🙏🏾 But with the U.S. facing its worst #measles outbreak in more than three decades, including over 1,200 confirmed cases & three tragic deaths, I’m particularly concerned about children on #Medicaid—many of whom face systemic barriers to vaccination. Declining rates in under‑resourced communities increase vulnerability & widen health disparities. This week we have published a childhood vaccination dashboard for folks to track and learn about vaccination rates among our children on Medicaid in MN. You can check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gZ9DzvNm We see that, for example, MMR vaccination rates have dropped over the last 4 years, particularly for children age 2-5, who had a statewide rate of 81.2% in 2024. The dashboard allows you to take a look by specific vaccination, age groups, county, race/ethnicity & SVI Zip code quartile. In the coming months we will be sharing briefs that provide further analysis of where we are doing well & where we have the opportunity to do better in creating communities that allow everyone the freedom from fear of vaccine-preventable illnesses. Ultimately we hope to help renew our shared commitment as a state to safeguarding children’s health through science, trust, and access. 🙏🏾🙌🏾✊🏾

Since 2000, vaccines have helped cut child mortality by nearly 50%. But in too many places, geographic barriers still determine whether a child gets vaccinated. Across the African continent, local innovation is reshaping what’s possible. In Rwanda, drones are delivering vaccines to remote clinics, expanding access in areas once considered unreachable. With more than 82% of Rwanda's population living in rural areas, the potential impact is transformative. But this isn’t just about the tools we use; it’s about making systems work better for the people they’re meant to serve. Right now, a new generation of African innovators is building solutions that are faster, smarter, and better adapted to local realities.  Philanthropy plays a critical role in sustaining this momentum – not by setting the direction, but by helping accelerate the leaders already charting the path forward. 

A child in a remote village shouldn’t miss a life-saving vaccine just because their home isn’t on a map. 📍💉 But now, with Google’s Open Buildings dataset, that’s changing. In northern Nigeria, health teams face the urgent challenge of reaching “zero-dose” children—kids who haven’t received their first Penta 1 vaccine. Many live in uncharted settlements, invisible to traditional maps. By combining satellite-based building footprints with local clinic locations and travel-time models, organizations like WorldPop and African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) Nigeria are uncovering these hidden communities. The result? Getting vaccines to the kids who need them most. 🌍👶🏽 This is data doing real work in the real world. And it’s not just about Nigeria. Google’s Open Buildings covers over 1.8 billion structures across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, helping governments and NGOs plan clinics, deliver aid, and design smarter cities. In Rwanda, it’s powering decisions on where to build new clinics. Across the continent, it’s being used for energy access, disaster relief, and more. Because when communities are visible, they become reachable. The future of global health is data-enabled, AI-powered, and human-first—and Google is helping make that future real. 🚀🗺️ #AIforGood #OpenData #HealthEquity #NigeriaHealth #VaccineAccess #GoogleResearch #GoogleOpenBuildings #GlobalHealth #EmergingMarkets

Patients see pharmacists 10 x more often than they see other health care professionals. In 2020 and 2021, US pharmacists provided more vaccinations than other health professionals. -  Most of both adult and pediatric CoVid-19 vaccinations were given by pharmacists. -  60% of flu vaccinations took place in pharmacies - surpassing physician offices. Population data reveal post pandemic healthcare is being sought closer to home. Individuals living in rural or low-income neighborhoods or lacking health benefits may not have access to preventive medical care where vaccines might be administered. But - they usually have access to a pharmacy. The extended hours of pharmacies are essential for people without schedule flexibility or childcare who need to make vaccine appointments during nontraditional hours. Pharmacists have continually stepped up and transitioned to provide expanded health services to those in need. Pharmacists have delivered. Ensuring that pharmacists in all 50 states continue to have vaccine administration authority will lay the foundation for a more equitable health-care system. #pharmacists #vaccines #healthcareequity