Social dynamics of vaccine deployment
A collection of resources to inform considerations concerning critical social dynamics, including trust in institutions, community norms, and the spread of information (including misinformation), and their influence on vaccine uptake and acceptance.
The collection features SSHAP products and other relevant materials.
Photo credit: Unicef Photo/Prinsloo
A health worker prepare a vaccine in the small village of Tasseliamaw in Guinea Bissau, Saturday,18 January 2020. Unicef were vaccinating children in the area against measles and polio in an ongoing campaign.Unicef Photo/Prinsloo
Briefing
Tools
Social science research for vaccine deployment in epidemic outbreaks
This Practical Approaches brief can be used to gain social science inputs in vaccine deployment efforts to provide practical solutions to recurring challenges, including vaccine refusal.
Infographic
Risk communication and community engagement for mpox vaccination in Eastern DRC
This infographic summarises insights from the SSHAP briefing 'Key Considerations: Risk Communication and Community Engagement for Mpox in Eastern DRC', presenting social and political considerations for the design and implementation of vaccination-related risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) strategies.
Briefing
Effective vaccine rollout and uptake in Sierra Leone
This Key Considerations brief proposes key considerations for ongoing vaccination efforts in Sierra Leone, including for the hepatitis vaccine and new malaria vaccine (RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S)), offering insights on planning equitable vaccine campaigns for new infections.
Briefing
Clinical and vaccine trials for COVID-19: Key Considerations from social science
This Key Considerations brief outlines how, and in what ways, social science can contribute to ongoing and future COVID-19 clinical and vaccine trials.
Briefing
Key Considerations: Achieving COVID-19 Vaccine and Health Equity in Ealing and North West London
This brief illustrates how COVID-19 vaccine (in)equity has played out on the ground and offers key considerations for how it can be improved in the North West London (NWL) borough of Ealing.
Briefing
Key Considerations: Achieving COVID-19 Vaccine and Health Equity in Ealing and North West London
This brief illustrates how COVID-19 vaccine (in)equity has played out on the ground and offers key considerations for how it can be improved in the North West London (NWL) borough of Ealing.
Briefing
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Minoritised Youth in Cleveland, Ohio, United States
This brief illustrates underlying reasons shaping COVID-19 vaccine attitudes among minority (especially Black and Latinx) youth (ages 12-18) and offers key considerations for how young people can be better engaged within Cleveland, Ohio.
Briefing
Key Considerations: Equitable Engagement to Promote COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Undocumented Urban Migrants
This brief sets out key considerations linked to the promotion of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among undocumented migrants residing in Rome, Italy. We focus on strategies to equitably distribute COVID-19 vaccines. Evidence from Italy is applicable to other contexts where vaccine…
Briefing
Key Considerations: Improving Uptake of the COVID-19 Vaccine Amongst Women in South Sudan
This brief explores some of the reasons behind the low COVID-19 vaccine uptake amongst women in South Sudan during the initial phases of the roll-out. This brief draws on evidence from academic and grey literature, dashboards and datasets on COVID19…
Evidence review
Data Synthesis: COVID-19 Vaccine Perceptions in Africa: Social and Behavioural Science Data, March 2020 – March 2021
This synthesis brings together data related to public perceptions about COVID-19 vaccines collected in 22 countries in Africa
Briefing
10 Ways Local Governments in Multicultural Urban Settings can Support Vaccine Equity in Pandemics
This brief investigates these disparities through the lens of “vaccine (in)equity”, focusing on the role of local actors. It builds on ethnographic and qualitative research carried out in the Northern Districts of Marseille and ongoing research engagement around vaccine equity…
Briefing
Rapid Review: Vaccine Hesitancy and Building Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccination
This brief draws on social science literature and informal interviews with experts to illustrate that vaccine hesitancy is complex and context-specific, and often reflects diverse, everyday anxieties. It proposes strategies to guide actors involved in vaccine development, communication and deployment…
Briefing
Key Considerations: Tackling Structural Discrimination and COVID-19 Vaccine Barriers for Roma Communities in Italy
This brief highlights how structural discrimination and social exclusion shape attitudes to COVID-19 vaccines among Roma communities in Italy, and the role trusted communal and public authorities can play in supporting vaccine uptake and tackling broader exclusions.
Briefing
Key Considerations: Engaging ‘People on the Move’ to Promote COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Italy
This key considerations brief outlines perceptions, understandings and experiences of COVID-19 vaccination among ‘people on the move’ in Italy.
Evidence review
Evidence Review: Religious Marginality and COVID-19 Vaccination – Access & Hesitancy
This evidence review explores how religious minority affiliation or status shapes experiences of vaccine access and uptake and how this relates to COVID-19, and how vaccine hesitancy can be addressed.
Briefing
Drivers Influencing Vaccination-related Behaviours Among Ukrainian Refugees in Poland
This brief summarises existing information about the factors influencing vaccination-related practices during the Ukrainian crisis. It also presents strategic and practical considerations to inform the design of interventions to create demand for routine immunisation among Ukrainian refugees.
Briefing
Integrating COVID-19 Vaccination Services: Insights from Iraq and Syria for the MENA Region
This brief draws on evidence from academic and grey literature and consultations with partners working in the COVID-19 response to review current integration efforts (as of August 2022) and explore potentially effective ways to integrate COVID-19 vaccination into other services…
Evidence review
Localisation of Polio Vaccination Efforts in the Newly Merged Districts (Tribal Areas) of Pakistan
This brief draws on evidence from academic and grey literature, data on polio vaccine uptake, consultations with partners working on polio eradication in Pakistan, and the authors’ own programme implementation experience in the country. The brief reviews the social, cultural,…
Briefing
Tools
Social science research for vaccine deployment in epidemic outbreaks
This Practical Approaches brief can be used to gain social science inputs in vaccine deployment efforts to provide practical solutions to recurring challenges, including vaccine refusal.
Case study
Rift Valley Fever: Local Knowledge, Health-Seeking Behaviours and Attitudes Towards Vaccination in Southern Uganda
Case study addressing the challenge of vaccine uptake and regulating the unknown
Evidence review
Socio-Cultural Considerations for Vaccine Introduction and Community Engagement
Key considerations and immediate recommendations, particularly for community engagement, in May 2018 for the Ebola outbreak in DRC.
