Enhancing Public Health Communication Regarding Vaccine Trials: Design and Development of the Pan-European VACCELERATE Toolkit

• Published in: JMIR public health and surveillance 2023-01, Vol.9, p.e44491-e44491
• Main Authors: Argyropoulos, Christos D, Leckler, Janina, Salmanton-García, Jon, Constantinou, Marinos, Alexandrou, Alexandra, Themistocleous, Sophia, Noula, Evgenia, Shiamakkides, George, Nearchou, Andria, Stewart, Fiona A, Albus, Kerstin, Koniordou, Markela, Kopsidas, Ioannis, Spivak, Orly, Hellemans, Margot, Hendrickx, Greet, Davis, Ruth Joanna, Azzini, Anna Maria, Simon, Paula Valle, Carcas-Sansuan, Antonio Javier, Askling, Helena Hervius, Vene, Sirkka, Prellezo, Jana Baranda, Álvarez-Barco, Elena, Macken, Alan J, Di Marzo, Romina, Luís, Catarina, Olesen, Ole F, Frias Iniesta, Jesus A, Barta, Imre, Tóth, Krisztina, Akova, Murat, Bonten, Marc M J, Cohen-Kandli, Miriam, Cox, Rebecca Jane, Součková, Lenka, Husa, Petr, Jancoriene, Ligita, Launay, Odile, Lundgren, Jens, Mallon, Patrick, Armeftis, Charis, Marques, Laura, Naucler, Pontus, Ochando, Jordi, Tacconelli, Evelina, van Damme, Pierre, Zaoutis, Theoklis, Hofstraat, Sanne, Bruijning-Verhagen, Patricia, Zeitlinger, Markus, Cornely, Oliver A, Pana, Zoi Dorothea
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Aged; Animation; Brochures; Child; Children & youth; Clinical trials; Consortia; COVID-19; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 Vaccines; Design; Digital Object Identifier; Disease prevention; Education; Educational materials; Emergency preparedness; Europe; False information; Graphic designers; Health care; Health Communication; Humans; Immunization; Immunology; Infectious diseases; Initiatives; Innovations; Life Sciences; Literacy; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Multimedia; Original Paper; Pandemics; Participation; Pedagogy; Public health; Registration; Santé publique et épidémiologie; Social networks; Vaccines; Vaccinology; Volunteers
• ISSN: 2369-2960; 2369-2960
• DOI: 10.2196/44491

The pan-European VACCELERATE network aims to implement the first transnational harmonized and sustainable vaccine trial Volunteer Registry, being a single entry point for potential volunteers of large-scale vaccine trials across Europe. This work exhibits a set of harmonized vaccine trial-related educational and promotional tools for the general public, designed and disseminated by the pan-European VACCELERATE network. This study primarily aimed to design and develop a standard toolkit to increase positive attitudes and access to trustworthy information for better access and increased recruitment to vaccine trials for the public. More specifically, the produced tools are focused on inclusiveness and equity, and are targeting different population groups, including underserved ones, as potential volunteers for the VACCELERATE Volunteer Registry (older individuals, migrants, children, and adolescents). The promotional and educational material is aligned with the main objectives of the Volunteer Registry to increase public literacy and awareness regarding vaccine-related clinical research or trials and trial participation, including informed consent and legal issues, side effects, and frequently asked questions regarding vaccine trial design. Tools were developed per the aims and principles of the VACCELERATE project, focusing on trial inclusiveness and equity, and are adjusted to local country-wise requirements to improve public health communication. The produced tools are selected based on the cognitive theory, inclusiveness, and equity of differently aged and underrepresented groups, and standardized material from several official trustworthy sources (eg, COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access; the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control; the European Patients' Academy on Therapeutic Innovation; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; and the World Health Organization). A team of multidisciplinary specialists (infectious diseases, vaccine research, medicine, and education) edited and reviewed the subtitles and scripts of the educational videos, extended brochures, interactive cards, and puzzles. Graphic designers selected the color palette, audio settings, and dubbing for the video story-tales and implemented QR codes. This study presents the first set of harmonized promotional and educational materials and tools (ie, educational cards, educational and promotional videos, extended brochures, flyers, posters, and puzzles) for vaccine clinical research (eg, COVID-19