​​​Vaccine accessibility is important for all populations to protect children and families from serious illnesses.To address barriers to vaccination, the Public Health Foundation (PHF), in partnership with the Wellness Equity Alliance (WEA), has developed an educational four-part video series on pediatric vaccination that will be released in August 2024.

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) and community health workers (CHWs) are crucial in communicating with vaccine-hesitant parents and caregivers about pediatric vaccination. As trusted community partners, it is essential to equip HCPs and CHWs with resources and tools to effectively engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds in a culturally competent manner while promoting health equity and immunization.

This video series is designed to improve pediatric vaccination rates, reduce vaccine hesitancy among parents and caregivers, and promote equitable healthcare access and workforce development. The four-part series includes: 

• Module 1: Communicating about Pediatric Vaccines
• Module 2: The Role of Vaccines in Childhood Development
• Module 3: Activating Trusted Partners in Pediatric Vaccination 
• Module 4: Broadening and Optimizing Pediatric Vaccine Access

Upon watching the videos, viewers will be able to: 

Module 1 : Communicating about Pediatric Vaccines

• Define key terms such as health equity, cultural competence, cultural humility, and the HIPE framework
• Articulate how to communicate through a health equity lens how vaccines work, as well as the risks of vaccinating children and risks of not vaccinating children
• Identify strategies for advancing health literacy for families to improve health equity
• Explain that even people who have cultivated their cultural awareness can still have unintentional, unconscious biases about cultures other than their own
  

• ​Define key terms such as Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs), health equity, health disparities, social determinants of health (SDOH), and vaccine hesitancy
•  Articulate that certain groups may have lower vaccination rates due to social determinants of health
• Identify strategies that deliver more equitable access to immunization for all children, regardless of their family's background or circumstances
• Articulate how social determinants of health can formulate the “why" behind some parents' vaccine hesitancy

Module 3: Activating Trusted Partners in Pediatric Vaccination

• Define key terms such as CHW, cross-sector collaboration, community engagement, vaccine hesitancy, vaccine confidence, vaccine access and immunization uptake
• Explain how to mobilize and synchronize trusted partners in the development and dissemination of pediatric vaccination information
• Explain the unique position of CHWs and how they leverage their shared experiences, cultural competencies, and community connections to build trust with patients, particularly those from underserved or marginalized communities.
• Explain the importance of cultural competence and identify specific strategies that enhance patient engagement such as personalized outreach, health education, and providing culturally relevant resources.
  

Module 4: Broadening and Optimizing Pediatric Vaccine Access

• ​​Define key terms such as vaccine access, vaccine equity, vaccine confidence, and vaccine hesitancy, and understand their implications in the context of public health
• Recognize various pediatric access points such as rural health clinics, community health centers, pharmacies, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations (CBOs)
• Articulate the fundamental role and structure of School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) in providing accessible healthcare services within the school setting
• Explain the importance of cultural competence and recognize key stakeholders involved in the delivery and education of pediatric vaccinations
  

Interested in additional immunization resources? Visit PHF's Immunization Center for tools, training, and educational materials for health professionals, or for questions, contact Gabrelle Taylor Gtaylor@phf.org ​