In this episode of Community Conversations on Vaccines, co-hosts Vince Blaser and Francesca Montalto of the Sabin Vaccine Institute are joined by Dr. Aamer Ikram, chief executive officer of the National Institutes of Health Pakistan, and Rukaya Mumuni, a public health officer and registered nurse in Ghana. They discuss the decline in immunization during the pandemic, vaccination coverage during natural disasters and national emergencies, and efforts to improve routine immunization and vaccinate zero-dose children. They also highlight successful strategies for reaching underserved communities ..read more

In this episode of Community Conversations on Vaccines, co-hosts Vince Blaser and Francesca Montalto are joined by Daniela Da’Costa Franco, a researcher and independent consultant for the Ministry of Health of Guatemala, and Deepa Risal Pokharel, senior advisor for social and behavior change and team lead for immunization demand at UNICEF. They explore the evolution of communications and outreach campaigns for immunization and the importance of inclusive approaches in addressing the largest sustained global decline in routine immunization coverage in 30 years, the vital role of behavioral scie ..read more

In this episode of Community Conversations on Vaccines, co-hosts Vince Blaser and Francesca Montalto of the Sabin Vaccine Institute are joined by Rehana Riyawala, vice president at Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), and Doreen Tuhebwe, research fellow at Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH). They discuss HPV vaccination efforts, the prevalence of cervical cancer, and innovative approaches to addressing public health challenges in the HPV space ..read more

In this episode of Community Conversations on Vaccines, co-hosts Vince Blaser and Francesca Montalto are joined by Daniela Da’Costa Franco, a researcher and independent consultant for the Ministry of Health of Guatemala, and Deepa Risal Pokharel, senior advisor for social and behavior change and team lead for immunization demand at UNICEF. They explore the evolution of communications and outreach campaigns for immunization and the importance of inclusive approaches in addressing the largest sustained global decline in routine immunization coverage in 30 years, the vital role of behavioral scie ..read more

Co-hosts Vince Blaser and Francesca Montalto are joined by Daren (Paul) Katigbak, a Women Deliver young leader, nurse, and public health professional in the Philippines, and Rita Akiki, a registered nurse and nursing director at Aboujaoude Hospital in Lebanon. They discuss their views on the status of vaccination efforts in their home countries of Lebanon and the Philippines. its implications, and approaches toward improvement, including addressing the welfare of nurses and other health workers who play important roles in educating the public on vaccines. Paul and Rita consider the investment ..read more

Co-hosts Vince Blaser and Francesca Montalto are joined in New York City on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by Dr. Anant Bhan, mentor and principal investigator for Sangath in Bhopal, India, and Dr. Kate Hopkins, Director of Research, Vaccine Acceptance & Demand at Sabin Vaccine Institute. Anant and Kate reflect upon their take-aways from discussions with global health leaders during UNGA, community-based participatory initiatives as a long-term strategy for boosting vaccine confidence, and the role of influencers in fostering trust. They explore other fact ..read more

Co-hosts Vince Blaser and Francesca Montalto are joined in New York City on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by Ugandan journalist and media trainer Esther Nakkazi and Malawian nurse and advocate Rashid Mang’anda. They reflect upon their take-aways from discussions with global health leaders during the UNGA, approaches to creating sustainable structures that support journalists and health workers  and build and sustain vaccine confidence in the communities they serve. They further delve into the role of government and the media in ensuring vaccine equity an ..read more

What drives decision-making on vaccines in low- and middle-income countries? How have professionals closest to communities fostered trust?  What challenges do they have to overcome to maintain that confidence and build vaccine equity? How has the covid-19 pandemic changed vaccine acceptance and demand?   Welcome to Community Conversations on Vaccines. In this podcast, we speak to the professionals closest to vaccine delivery and decision-making, across low- and middle income countries. We will be joined by guests like Rashid Mang'anda, a nurse at the Phalombe District in Souther ..read more

Rubina Qasim, an assistant professor at the Institute of Nursing & Midwifery, Dow University Health Sciences in Pakistan, and Dr. Ariel Frisancho, country director of the Catholic Medical Mission Board in Peru, consider the future and how policymakers can build trust and equitable access to vaccines to promote healthy communities. Rubina shares her research and successful approaches to addressing vaccine myths and misinformation among the Pashtun community in Pakistan. Ariel observes community experiences with COVID-19 and routine immunization in Peru and the implications for global health ..read more

Dr. Caroline Aura, a research scientist at the University of Nairobi, Kenya and Sabin Behavioral and Research Grant program partner, and Yael Berman, a fact-checking reporter for AFP in Brazil, highlight the challenges associated with addressing vaccine misinformation in communities. Dr. Caroline talks about her new research that examines government and health system trust, while Yael shares how the infodemic has impacted her fact-checking and debunking work. With special guests: Dr. Caroline Aura, Research Scientist, University of Nairobi and Yael Berman, Fact-Checking Reporter, AFP ..read more