Presenters: ​
Lisa Menning, Team lead, Demand and Behavioural Sciences, Essential Programme on Immunization, Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization Headquarters
Noel Brewer, Gillings Distinguished Professor in Public Health, Professor of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina, USA
Amaya Gillespie, Senior Behavioural Scientist, UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office
Abstract:
The recent focus on vaccination in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic has raised many questions about the multiple conditions that need to converge to support and sustain high uptake of vaccination.To effectively address the context-specific causes of low uptake with evidence-informed interventions, we must begin by assessing the full range of behavioural and social drivers (BeSD) of vaccination. These involve the thoughts and feelings of individuals, and social processes that each affect their motivation or intention to get the recommended vaccines or hesitancy in doing so. Practical or access-related factors may be difficult to overcome, even for the motivated.
This session will summarize work done to globally field test and validate tools on BeSD of vaccination, and illustrate how these tools are being used to generate data to guide strategies to improve uptake.
Bios:
Lisa Menning is currently team lead for vaccine demand and behavioural sciences, working in the Department of Immunization with WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Lisa brings almost 20 years of progressive experience in global health, social and behaviour change, communications, community engagement and advocacy, working in the non-profit, public and private sectors. She has spent the last decade working in immunization, and prior to that worked on HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases. In her current role at WHO, Lisa manages a programme of work that is focused on confidence and uptake of vaccination, and addressing hesitancy. Her focus is on developing normative guidance and supporting tools that draw on the latest evidence and experience from the social and behavioural sciences, providing technical support to regions and countries, and collaborating with partners and civil society.
Noel Brewer’s research explores why people engage in vaccination, vaping, and cancer screening. He has published over 350 papers on these topics including behaviors related to HPV vaccination and vaping warnings. He is one of the most cited researchers in the world according to Clarivate. Dr. Brewer leads a center on improving clinical staff communication about HPV vaccination, funded by a $12 million grant from NCI. The center is developing ways to expand the use and impact of the Announcement Approach Training developed by Dr. Brewer and colleagues that teaches providers to recommend HPV vaccine more effectively. He also leads two R01 grants on vaping. One project explores warnings for vapes and the other studies uncontrolled vaping. A previous clinical trial by Dr. Brewer and colleagues found that pictorial warnings for cigarette packs help smokers quit. The findings supported efforts by FDA to implement the enhanced existing warnings. Dr. Brewer advises on vaccination for the World Health Organization, CDC, and other organizations. He advised the President’s Cancer Panel under two presidents, and has addressed the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine multiple times. Dr. Brewer co-edited the FDA’s book, Communicating Risks and Benefits: An Evidence-Based User's Guide. Media coverage of his research includes the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BBC and NPR.
Amaya Gillespie is a public health expert who has held senior leadership positions in the United Nations (UN) system, including under the UN Secretary General, World Health Organization, UNICEF, and UNAIDS. Her grounding in public health and behavioural science has been the common thread throughout her career. She has a reputation as a leader in complex emergencies and public health issues (COVID-19, Ebola, HIV). She led the coordination of the COVID-19 response for the middle east region in a joint role with WHO and UNICEF, and most recently, supported Syria in the Earthquake response in early 2023. She is also an accomplished career coach, and a Principal Visiting Fellow of United Nations University, KL. Amaya holds Australian and Spanish nationalities.