Exchanges on Communication Strategies and Generating Demand for Better Rates of Vaccination Against COVID-19 and Vaccine-preventable Diseases

Since the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines in the Region of the Americas in 2021, more than 1.9 billion doses have been administered. However, only 17 of the 51 Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) countries and territories have reached the World Health Organization (WHO) target of 70% vaccination coverage. COVID-19 Vaccination in the different countries of the Americas faces several complex problems, including: infodemia and vaccine reluctance. At the request of the Peruvian Ministry of Health, PAHO organized a series of exchanges between Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to present successful communication and demand generation strategies applied at the national level to improve vaccine coverage rates and uptake of COVID-19 Vaccination and all vaccines throughout the life course. This publication presents presentations from the two sessions held, which were attended by ministries of health, PAHO immunization and communication focal points, colleagues from other UN agencies and partners.