’Communicate to vaccinate’ (COMMVAC) project website launched

COMMVAC aims to build research evidence for improving communication about childhood vaccinations with parents and communities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The address of the new website is www.commvac.com and project outputs, such as research papers and summaries, will be made available through the site.

Online consultative forum
From 11- 14 July, COMMVAC will be holding an online consultative forum. The purpose of the forum is to engage with stakeholders regarding the outputs that the COMMVAC project has achieved so far. The forum will discuss views and ideas on priorities for systematic reviews of interventions to improve communication about childhood vaccinations between parents and health care providers in LMICs.

We are hoping to have wide participation in this forum, to help ensure the relevance and usefulness of the work undertaken in the next stage of the project. Inputs to the forum will also contribute to improving the evidence base for communication regarding childhood vaccination and to informing practice in the field. We welcome contributions from stakeholders involved in policy development, design, management, implementation and evaluation of vaccination programmes across all settings. Those involved in communication, health education and community-based programmes are also most welcome to participate. If you would like to participate, you can register now at http://www.vacfa.com/index.php?option=com_juser&task=register . Following registration you will receive further background information and instructions on how to participate in the forum. For any questions regarding the forum, please contact the forum facilitator Charles.wiysonge@uct.ac.za .       

Collaborators
COMMVAC includes the following collaborators: the Global Health Unit at the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services; the Centre for Health Communication and Participation at La Trobe University, Melbourne; the University of Cape Town, South Africa and its Vaccines for Africa initiative (VACFA); the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE); and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway.

For further information, email commvac@nokc.no