Communication for Development Guidance for cVDPV2 Outbreak Response Including the Use of Novel OPV2 (nOPV2)

"[I]t can be challenging to ensure people have the confidence in polio vaccination needed to protect their children. More than ever, this requires a dedicated focus on communication and community engagement."



The purpose of this guidance is to assist Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) field communication professionals in planning and executing high-quality communication responses to circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks, including response with the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). cVDPV2 outbreaks are stopped using the same strategies that have enabled progress against polio - ensuring every child is reached with OPV through immunisation campaigns - but communicating about these outbreaks with audiences may be challenging due to the complex name, nature, and technicality of the vaccine-derived poliovirus concept. This guidance aims to help GPEI teams to communicate on cVDPV matters with technical confidence and simplicity.



This document is divided in two parts. Part 1 provides an overview of - with links to - various communication resources for cVDPV2 outbreaks in accordance with revised GPEI Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for outbreak response. Developed in collaboration with regional and country teams, these resources include: (i) the frontline workers (FLW) training module, including an abridged version for outbreaks; (ii) standardised information, education, and communication (IEC) package with key messages, which can be localised based on different audience needs; (iii) digital engagement strategy, which involves polio communication teams using the existing social media spaces and platforms to proactively inform the public, participate in public discourse, and address misinformation to ultimately mitigate a communication crisis; and (iv) monitoring and evaluation (M&E) minimum standard indicators for polio communication for development (C4D) activities (e.g., social mobilisation activities indicators to understand whether vaccine hesitancy is a major barrier to campaign coverage in a particular geographical area or with a particular population).



Part 2 focuses on specific guidance for the use of nOPV2 vaccine in the response, including rationale, communications challenges, objectives, and tactics. The recommendations for the introduction of nOPV2 are informed by recent formative research on perceptions of nOPV and analysis of independent monitoring data from countries currently responding to cVDPV2 outbreaks. C4D recommendations include:

1. Tailor nOPV2 messages to capacities and roles of various audiences: caregivers, FLWs, health practitioners (HPs), social influencers, journalists, and religious leaders - For example, with regard to the latter group (religious leaders), "Key messages and information should avoid technical aspects of nOPV2, rather focusing on its safety, efficiency and health protective benefits and aligning vaccination messages to core beliefs such as looking after children and their health and wellbeing that are postulated in religious teachings. Their support to FLWs and engagement in dispelling rumours and misinformation should be key focus of the advocacy efforts with religious leaders in support of Polio and broader immunization."
2. Handle nOPV2 novelty, genetic modification, and World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL) deployment sensibly and selectively - For example, while nOPV2 use under EUL will likely be acceptable among health workers and practitioners, if it becomes a concern in public discourse, communication should emphasise "the emergency nature of polio outbreaks, its contagiousness and its devastating impact on the health and wellbeing of young children, which, in turn, necessitates urgent response and measures."
3. Adhere to specific C4D objectives - For example, ensure that FLWs and HPs have adequate knowledge and skills to converse with caregivers on nOPV2 and address vaccine hesitancy and adverse events following immunisation (AEFIs) / vaccine-related events (VREs).
4. Train FLWs on nOPV2 using the added module, whose interpersonal communication (IPC) component emphasises the importance of campaigns with personal credibility of the messenger / source of information, guidance on understanding outbreaks and polio basics, and key messages on COVID-19.
5. Prepare crisis communication plan - For example, strengthen public communication through training for selected health journalists / media professionals on how to report issues around public health emergencies, with a focus on potential risk related to the introduction of nOPV2.
6. Implement M&E and rumour tracking - For example, rapid polling of either FLWs or caregivers should be conducted using whichever platform (e.g., U-Report, RapidPro, Viamo, SMS (short messaging service) surveys, and so forth) is most appropriate in order to provide an early indication from the frontline workforce as to whether nOPV2 is generating new vaccine acceptance issues at any significant scale.

The document concludes with a list of references and related resources.