To coincide with World Immunisation week (24-30 April), under the theme 'Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible', Burnet Institute and World Vision are empowering local community members to address vaccine hesitancy and improve access to immunisation information.
The project supported the creation of Village Health Committees in three provinces in rural Solomon Islands, engaging respected local leaders - retired teachers, religious figures, youth representatives and former government workers - to form diverse, representative groups aimed at improving immunisation awareness.
The Committees were trained to lead vaccine education efforts in their own communities.
Burnet project officer of Immunisation and Health Systems Strengthening, Tanya Perrin , said the aim of the program was to ensure essential health information was disseminated in rural areas and to individuals who needed it most.
"The project focused on breaking down some of the myths and misinformation that lead to lower vaccine uptake in these communities," she said.
"We ran tailored training sessions and community events to give volunteers the knowledge and confidence to talk about the importance of immunisation.
"The aim was to help boost vaccination rates and protect the health of kids and families in communities that don't always have easy access to immunisation education."
The curriculum focused on four key areas: building confidence in public speaking as a community leader, how to communicate immunisation awareness effectively, leading conversations with parents and caregivers about vaccination, and developing planning skills to organise and execute community activities.
"The feedback from the training was positive, with committee members reporting feelings of a newfound sense of confidence in their roles as community leaders, particularly amongst the female committee members," Ms Perrin said.
"They said the training didn't just teach them about immunisation; it also gave them the confidence and skills to talk about it with their family, friends and people in their communities."
