17th March 2021
Own Correspondent
The Ministry of Health and Wellness today launched the COVID-19 vaccine communication campaign initiative to quickly deploy the use of safe and secure vaccines for the citizens and residents of Botswana, without being specific on the type of vaccines being deployed.
“Vaccines are a proven and effective strategy for promoting and protecting public health. Botswana, like other countries, is on the eve of rolling out the COVID-19 vaccination transmission, morbidity and mortality related to COVID-19,” said Dr Edwin Dikoloti, Ministry of Health and Wellness.
He said, “We are cognizant of the fact that, failure to communicate effectively has the potential of widening the health gaps especially for vulnerable populations hence jeopardizing our fight against the unprecedented COVD-19 pandemic.”
According to officials the deployment of the national vaccine initiative will be done in line with the Ministry’s Expanded Program on Immunization as well as the Public Health Act of 2014, regarding the Prevention of the Spread of Immunizable Diseases and the Re-emergence.
Officials say the failure to communicate effectively has potential of widening the health gaps especially for vulnerable populations hence jeopardizing the fight against the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.
The overall of the COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Strategy is to alleviate apprehensions about the vaccine, promote its acceptance and uptake by the public through timely dissemination of accurate and transparent information.
The approach will be staggered, targeted, responsive, evidence based, inclusive and collaborative. Furthermore, the strategy will enhance and harness capacities and synergies of other sectors, communities and response actors.
“It is worth noting that the communication strategy will use the existing national Kgang Ke Eng? Campaign, which seeks to explore and answer the current issue of vaccine uptake. The campaign will highlight the slogan ‘ArmReady for Lemao.” The campaign aims to address fears, misinformation, doubts and frustrations and emerging issues regarding the vaccine,” said Dikoloti.
He said, “The campaign will utilize traditional, electronic/digital and other new platforms including social media to reach and engage with different target groups. The same platforms will be used to monitor, evaluate and continually improve the campaign. Specific messages will be developed and reviewed based on current and emerging information and issues through the lifespan of the vaccination campaign.”
